Photo by Dana Larson

A little after noon on Tuesday, March 17, a boat burst into flames in the canyon just down the hill from Self Realization Fellowship center in Hillcrest. Firefighters were on the scene within ten minutes and immediately began working to contain the fire.

It appeared the owners of the boat were not home. The incident drew a crowd of onlookers to the edge of the canyon near the back of the center.

Witnesses recall hearing two large explosions, followed by plumes of black smoke and the smell of burning paint. One witness, who fled from an apartment complex less than a mile from the burning boat, stood with his dog and watched as the black smoke crept closer and closer to his home.

Within 20 minutes of arriving, firefighters contained the fire and no major damage to the surrounding area was reported.