ST. MICHAELS, Md.- Maryland Natural Resources Police have released the name of a man who was rescued Thursday after his boat caught fire off the waters of St. Michaels in Talbot County.
The man has been identified as Keith Berger, of Chandler, Texas.
The incident happened shortly before 10 a.m., according to St. Michaels Fire Chief Phil Jones. Police said the 34-foot Carver boat left the Miles River Yacht Club around 8:30 that morning. According to Jones, the boat was heading from St. Michaels to Tilghman Island when Berger noticed smoke. He investigated and tried to get to a fire extinguisher, but the smoke was reportedly too thick for him to find it. So he jumped overboard. The boat had 90 gallons of gas on board when the fire broke out, Jones said.
Natural Resources Police say a good Samaritan picked up Berger, who was the boat's captain and sole occupant.
The St. Michaels Fire Department was assisted by the Tilghman Island and Kent Island fire companies, which sent their fire boats to the scene. Maryland State Police Trooper 6 and Natural Resources Police also responded.
Jones said the boat burned to the water line so fire crews filled it with enough water to sink it. The Maryland Department of Natural Resources will remove the boat at a later date. It is sitting in five feet of water near the shore.
