Dive and salvage crews begin cleaning up fire-ravaged Clover Island boathouses
Crews began cleanup work at the Clover Island after a fire destroyed two boathouses and boats earlier this month.
A salvage and diving team was onsite, working to clear debris from the burned out shelters on Wednesday morning.
The work is part of a cleanup effort by contractor Clean Harbors. It’s unclear how long the project will take.
Officials estimated 50 to 150 gallons of fuel spilled into the Columbia River as a result of the blaze.
The Port of Kennewick deployed a set of booms to contain the fuel soon after the fire began. Absorbent pads also were used to help take some of the fuel off the water.
The port also closed the public boat launch on Clover Island at the direction of the Washington Department of Ecology.
The fire was spotted by a port maintenance worker, early in the morning on Dec. 7. It destroyed two boathouses with two boats inside and damaged several nearby buildings.
The initial response was complicated by frozen pipes and winter weather.
The port said the launch will remain closed until they receive clearance to reopen it from state Ecology officials.
The boathouses are privately owned shelters for boats at the yacht club, which leases the property from the port. The shelters are privately owned, and not used as residences.
The club was founded in 1953 and has been part of the marina and Clover Island since.
