The Coast Guard was alerted to a boat fire Thursday off the coast of Hog Island on Thursday afternoon.

At approximately 3 p.m., a good Samaritan called Coast Guard Sector Southeastern New England watchstanders to report a boat engulfed in flames near the shore of Hog Island.

Shortly after, Station Castle Hill immediately launched a 45-foot response boat crew and arrived on scene at about 3:30 p.m. and established a safety perimeter.

Narragansett Bay Marine Task Force responded to the scene with teams aboard three fire boats, including a North Kingstown fire boat crew who extinguished the blaze.

There people were reported to have been on the vessel, but local officials later verified they were on shore.No injuries were reported.

The Coast Guard is inspecting the scene for potential pollution and ensuring the safety of nearby mariners.

Ryan Belmore is the Publisher of What'sUpNewp. 
Belmore has been involved with What’sUpNewp since shortly after its launch in 2012, proudly leading it to be named Best Local News Blog in Rhode Island by Rhode Island Monthly readers in 2018, 2019, and 2020 and an honorable mention in the Common Good Awards in 2021.

Born and raised in Rhode Island, Belmore graduated from Coventry High School and the Community College of Rhode Island. In addition to living in Newport for 10 years, he has lived in Portsmouth, Coventry, Providence, Smithfield, Burrillville, and East Greenwich.

Belmore currently serves as Vice President of the Board Of Directors for Fort Adams Trust and on the Board of Directors for Potter League For Animals. He previously served on the Board of Lucy's Hearth and the Arts & Cultural Alliance for Newport County.

Belmore and his wife, Jen, currently live in Alexandria, Virginia, a move they made in 2021. Read more about that here - https://whatsupnewp.com/2021/09/letter-from-the-publisher-some-personal-news/

Belmore visits Newport every couple of weeks to support the 12+ paid contributors What'sUpNewp has on the ground across Rhode Island, a place he called home for 39 years.

Belmore is a member of Local Independent Online News (LION) Publishers, Society of Professional Journalists, and the North American Snowsports Journalists Association.

In 2020, Belmore was named Member of the Year by LION and won the Arts & Cultural Alliance of Newport County's Dominque Award.
Belmore can be contacted at ryan@whatsupnewp.com and 401-662-1653.