Boat engulfed in flames ignites several vessels at Sunny Isles dock: fire rescue

A boat that caught on fire early Friday morning at a Sunny Isles Beach boat dock caused a major fire, damaging several boats and leading to the evacuation of the area around the dock, which includes high-rise condos, according to Miami-Dade Fire Rescue.

At around 5:15 a.m., more than 25 units from Miami-Dade Fire Rescue arrived to a condominium at 400 Sunny Isles Blvd., near the Northeast 163rd Street Bridge over the Intracoastal Waterway, close to Oleta River State Park.

Crews found a vessel fully engulfed in flames at a dock behind the condo, with the fire spreading to several boats. The area was evacuated as a precaution.

Crews from the City of Miami Fire Rescue, the U.S. Coast Guard and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission were still assessing the charred boats at 10 a.m.

‘It’s my baby’

After the fire was extinguished, a large vessel, now reduced to a charred skeleton, leaned heavily to one side at the dock—its hull blackened and scorched by intense flames.

Beside it, a smaller vessel named Lupo sat, completely coated in thick white foam firefighters use to douse fires. Its owner, Michael Lupolover, could do nothing but stand on the dock and stare at the boat he’d owned for five years.

“It’s my baby,” Lupolover said.

He said he received a call around 5:40 a.m. from the dock master and rushed over.

“I felt helpless,” he said. “I’ve spent a lot of beautiful days with my family on that boat.” He also used it for charter trips. Lupolover, who lives in Sunny Isles Beach, is the owner of Lupo Yacht Club.

Lupolover pointed to a smaller, burned-out boat floating nearby, but not tethered to the dock. He said that vessel caught fire first, setting off the blaze.

Six large boats impacted

In total, six large boats were impacted by the fires, as well as two personal watercraft. The largest vessel was about 90-feet long, said Andy Alvarez, MDFR Marine Services Bureau Chief.

“Ship fires are not your typical fire,” Alvarez said. “We talk about ship fires as it being a commercial fire, a residential fire and a high-rise fire, all in one.”

The fire is under control. Authorities have not yet released details on the cause of the fire. No injuries were reported and there was no damage to the nearby apartment building.

Firefighters used hose lines and deployed water and foam from both land and water to bring the flames under control. Fireboats 21 and 73 also assisted.

This story was originally published June 6, 2025 at 8:09 AM.