Marina fire heavily damages two boats in Inver Grove Heights 

Fire officials in Inver Grove Heights say fire damaged two boats docked at a Mississippi River marina on Tuesday night — and a firefighter had to be pulled out of the river after falling into the icy water. 

Firefighters in the southeast Twin Cities metro community were called about 7 p.m. to a private marina on the 6100 block of Doffing Avenue, on the west bank of the Mississippi River about a mile and a half south of Interstate 494.

They found a 50-foot boat engulfed in flames at a slip in the marina. The flames also spread to another adjacent boat. One firefighter fell into the 38-degree water at the scene and had to be rescued, but was unhurt. 

The marina lists year-round water services among its amenities — an indication that some boats may be occupied on a long-term basis — but fire officials didn’t report any injuries or say if anyone was displaced by the fire. 

Fire crews were on the scene for more than two hours and reported that both boats remained floating, but were badly damaged. The cause of the fire is under investigation. 

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