california yacht club fire 2023

Fire guts historic California Yacht Club in Marina del Rey

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Firefighters worked overnight Monday to extinguish a blaze that erupted at a historic yacht club in Marina del Rey.

The Los Angeles County Fire Department received a call around 11:30 p.m. Monday for a structure fire at the California Yacht Club in the 4400 block of Admiralty Way, said Fred Fielding, a Fire Department spokesperson.

Crews arrived to find heavy smoke and fire engulfing the two-story building, fire officials said.

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Video from news outlets showed large flames consuming the structure as smoke billowed overhead. Multiple firetrucks and firefighters were called in to help contain the blaze.

Two firefighters suffered moderate injuries and were taken to a hospital, Fielding said. The extent of their injuries and their status was not immediately known.

The blaze was knocked down just before 1:30 a.m. Tuesday, said Jeremy Stafford, supervising fire dispatcher at the L.A. County Fire Department.

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The cause of the fire remains under investigation, Stafford said.

The California Yacht Club was started in 1922 by yachtsman from the Los Angeles Athletic Club and other yacht clubs, according to the club’s website .

Representatives for the club did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

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Alexandra E. Petri is a former Los Angeles Times staff writer who covered trends and breaking news. She previously covered live news at the New York Times. A two-time reporting fellow with the International Women’s Media Foundation, she graduated from Penn State with a degree in journalism and international studies.

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Fire destroys California Yacht Club in Marina del Rey

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An overnight blaze in Marina del Rey has injured two firefighters and destroyed a historic yacht club. 

According to the Los Angeles County Fire Department, firefighters received a call for a fire at a two story two commercial building with smoke and fire showing at about 11:30 p.m. on Dec. 11. 

Numerous firetrucks and a substantial number of firefighters were dispatched to control the fire. the two firefighters suffered moderate injuries and were transported to a local hospital for treatment. The extent of their injuries and their status was not immediately known.

The blaze was knocked down just before 1:30 a.m. Tuesday, said Jeremy Stafford, supervising fire dispatcher at the L.A. County Fire Department.

The fire department’s Arson Investigation Unit was called to the scene to investigate the cause of the fire.

The yacht club was founded in 1922 in Wilmington Harbor near San Pedro and the current facility in Marina del Rey was built in 1967, according to the club’s website .

Matthew Hall

Matthew Hall has a Masters Degree in International Journalism from City University in London and has been Editor-in-Chief of SMDP since 2014. Prior to working at SMDP he managed a chain of weekly papers... More by Matthew Hall

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Watch CBS News

2 firefighters injured battling massive fire at yacht club in Marina del Rey

By Amy Maetzold

December 12, 2023 / 5:22 AM PST / KCAL News

Two firefighters were injured while battling a massive fire at a yacht club in Marina del Rey Monday night.

Crews responded around 11:30 p.m. to 4469 Admiralty Way where they found the California Yacht Club fully engulfed in flames, according to the Los Angeles County Fire Department.

Authorities said while battling the flames, two firefighters were injured and taken to a hospital with moderate injuries.

The  California Yacht Club  was founded in 1922 and the building in Marina del Rey was built in 1967, according to the club's website.   

"My dad built this place in the early 60s and it has been our home for many years...such a tragedy to see it burn down," said Steve Hathaway, former owner of the California Yacht Club.  

The cause of the fire is unknown at this time and still under investigation.  

Amy Maetzold is a digital producer at CBS Los Angeles. She started her journalism career in Wisconsin where she was a producer at NBC15 and Spectrum News 1. Before coming to KCAL, Amy covered news in Santa Barbara at KEYT, winning a group Emmy Award for team coverage on the Alisal Fire.

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Historic california yacht club building in marina del rey destroyed by fire, report says.

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The clubhouse for a Southern California yacht club dating back to the 1960s was reportedly destroyed in an early morning fire on Tuesday.

The Los Angeles County Fire Department said on X just after midnight that crews were fighting the fire at a two-story commercial building at the address of the California Yacht Club in Marina del Rey.

2ND ALARM STRUCTURE FIRE | FS 110 | 4469 Admiralty Way #MarinaDelRey | At 11:30p.m. #LACoFD units were dispatched and are on scene of a two story commercial building with smoke and fire showing. Units are in defensive mode. #HarborIC — L.A. County Fire Department (@LACoFDPIO) December 12, 2023

NBCLA reported that two firefighters were hurt while responding to the fire and then released from a hospital.

While the clubhouse was destroyed, no boats in the marina appeared to be damaged, according to NBCLA.

The California Yacht Club’s website said the club was founded in 1922 at Wilmington Harbor near San Pedro and then relocated to Marina del Rey in the 1960s. The current club facility was built in 1967.

This story is developing. Stay with KCRA 3 for updates.

Flames engulf California Yacht Club in Marina del Rey; 2 firefighters injured

MARINA DEL REY, Calif. (KABC) -- Two firefighters were injured while battling flames that engulfed a yacht club that has been a local landmark in Marina del Rey for decades.

The fire was reported around 11:30 p.m. Monday at the California Yacht Club on Admiralty Way, according to the Los Angeles County Fire Department.

Fire crews arrived on scene to heavy fire and smoke billowing from the building, and it was quickly upgraded to a 2nd alarm fire before it was eventually extinguished.

The injured male firefighters were taken to the hospital with moderate injuries, but additional details about their injuries were not known. They have since been released.

The California Yacht Club started back in 1922. The former owner told Eyewitness News that his father helped build the Marina del Rey building over 50 years ago.

"It's been a home for so many people. We are so heartbroken right now... It tears me apart to see... It's just terrible," said Steve Hathaway.

The cause of the fire is under investigation.

No other injuries were reported and no boats were damaged.

Related Topics

• MARINA DEL REY
• LOS ANGELES COUNTY
• BUILDING FIRE
• LOS ANGELES COUNTY FIRE DEPARTMENT
• FIREFIGHTER INJURED
• FIREFIGHTERS

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California Yacht Club Destroyed in Fire

MARINA DEL REY— A huge fire destroyed the California Yacht Club, located in Marina del Rey, on Dec. 11.

Los Angeles County Fire Department received a call around 11:30 p.m. that night and arrived to find a massive two-story fire. 

Videos from news outlets show bright red flames traveling over the roof of the club and producing large black clouds of smoke.

Two firefighters suffered moderate injuries and were hospitalized before the blaze was extinguished just before 1:30 a.m. Dec. 12. The cause of their injuries has not been released. 

Among the most prominent California clubs, the California Yacht Club was established in 1922 and has a long history of promoting yachting and maritime activities. It has frequently hosted national and international regattas, with recent events including the J/70 World Championship, U.S. Junior Women’s Championship, Martin 242 North American Championship and CFJ National Championship.

The club was started in Los Angeles harbor by a group of loyal yachtsmen – most from the Los Angeles Athletic Club and the rest active in other early yacht clubs of that day. In 1941, America went to war, and the Coast Guard took over CYC’s facilities in Wilmington. Members continued to fly the Club Burgee, but after World War II, the facilities were so run down that CYC never could return to its birthplace.

Former owner Steve Hathaway noted that his father helped build the club in the 1960s. “It’s been a home for so many people,” said Hathaway in a statement. “We are so heartbroken right now… It tears me apart to see… It’s just terrible.”

The cause of the fire is under investigation.

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Massive fire destroys historic yacht club in marina del rey, the overnight fire gutted the historic yacht club and sent two firefighters to the hospital with moderate injuries, officials said..

Rachel Barnes , Patch Staff

MARINA DEL REY, CA — A massive fire erupted overnight at a historic yacht club, gutting the two-story building and injuring two firefighters, according to the Los Angeles Fire Department.

The fire department received a report of the fire at about 11:30 p.m. on Monday at the California Yacht Club in the 4400 block of Admiralty Way. A department spokesperson told the Los Angeles Times they arrived to find heavy smoke and flames engulfing the building.

Firefighters knocked down the flames at about 1:30 a.m. on Tuesday. Two firefighters were transported to a local hospital with moderate injuries. The extent of their injuries and their status was not available.

Find out what's happening in Marina Del Rey with free, real-time updates from Patch.

The cause of the fire is under investigation, officials said.

California Yacht Club was founded in 1922 in the Wilmington Harbor near San Pedro before it moved to Marina del Rey in 1967, according to the club's website.

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Published on December 12th, 2023 | by Editor

Fire destroys California Yacht Club

Published on December 12th, 2023 by Editor -->

A massive fire decimated the California Yacht Club located in Marina del Rey, CA.

The fire was reported around 11:30 pm on December 11, with crews arriving to find heavy smoke and fire engulfing the two-story building. Two firefighters suffered moderate injuries before the blaze was knocked down just before 1:30 am on December 12, 2023.

Among the prominent California clubs, it has been a frequent host to national and international regattas, with recent events including the J/70 World Championship, US Junior Women’s Championship, Martin 242 North American Championship, and CFJ National Championship.

The club was started in 1922 in Los Angeles harbor by a group of dedicated yachtsman – most from Los Angeles Athletic Club and the rest active in other early yacht clubs of the day. But when the USA went to war in 1941, the club’s facilities were taken over by the Coast Guard.

After World War II, the facilities were so run down that CYC was forever gone from its birthplace. However, a group of previous CYC members and other prominent yachtsmen were encouraged by the development of Marina del Rey and reactived California Yacht Club in 1961.

Former owner Steve Hathaway noted that his father helped build the club in the 1960s. “It’s been a home for so many people. We are so heartbroken right now… It tears me apart to see… It’s just terrible,” said Hathaway.

The cause of the fire is under investigation.

Comment : This one is personal as Scuttlebutt was founded at California Yacht Club with two generations of the Leweck family having photos and trophies that perished in the flames. – Craig Leweck, Scuttlebutt

Excerpt from Los Angeles Times on December 15, 2023:

The blaze engulfed decades’ worth of boating trophies, historical artifacts and cherished memorabilia at the California Yacht Club. Fire crews attempted to control the blaze as heavy smoke and flames consumed the two-story building. By the time they had subdued the fire two hours later, only the skeletal remnants of the clubhouse were left standing.

John Myers, senior vice president of the club, said the blaze had been reported by an employee working late in the clubhouse Monday night (Dec. 11). The fire spared the remainder of the facilities on the ground, including the docks and the yachts moored there. But the clubhouse, and particularly its second floor, was all but wiped out.

The second floor once housed a collection of the club’s prestigious racing trophies, kept on display for members and visitors. The fire melted all but a single salvageable California Cup. Most notably, the priceless King of Spain Trophy, acquired in 1929 from King Alfonso XIII, was lost.

Additionally, the club lost cherished photographs of every past commodore, a significant position within a yacht club. Members said they didn’t know if anyone had digitized the images of the commodores or of the club’s founders.

The main topic among members now is what’s next for the club. Dakoske Koslu noted that the club’s ownership changed over the last few years, and many are unsure and concerned about the club’s continuation after the fire.

Tags: California Yacht Club , CYC fire , tragedy

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Fire guts historic California Yacht Club in Marina del Rey

Firefighters worked overnight Monday to extinguish a blaze that erupted at a historic yacht club in Marina del Rey.

The Los Angeles County Fire Department received a call around 11:30 p.m. Monday for a structure fire at the California Yacht Club in the 4400 block of Admiralty Way, said Fred Fielding, a Fire Department spokesperson.

Crews arrived to find heavy smoke and fire engulfing the two-story building, fire officials said.

Read more: Left homeless by massive L.A. fire, families face a Christmas of uncertainty and pain

Video from news outlets showed large flames consuming the structure as smoke billowed overhead. Multiple firetrucks and firefighters were called in to help contain the blaze.

Two firefighters suffered moderate injuries and were taken to a hospital, Fielding said. The extent of their injuries and their status was not immediately known.

The blaze was knocked down just before 1:30 a.m. Tuesday, said Jeremy Stafford, supervising fire dispatcher at the L.A. County Fire Department.

Read more: Murder-suicide suspected in Sylmar house fire that ignited thousands of rounds of ammo

The cause of the fire remains under investigation, Stafford said.

The California Yacht Club was started in 1922 by yachtsman from the Los Angeles Athletic Club and other yacht clubs, according to the club's website .

Representatives for the club did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times .

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Fire Destroys California Yacht Club

The historic california yacht club was decimated by a fire on monday night..

California Yacht Club was destroyed by a fire on Monday, December 11. Firefighters from the Los Angeles County Fire Department (LACFD) responded to a report of a structure fire at 11:30 p.m. where they found the club ablaze.

LACFD declared that all visible fires had been extinguished at 1:27 a.m. Two firefighters were treated on scene for minor injuries and transported to local area hospitals for further evaluation. No other injuries were reported, and the cause of the fire is under investigation, according to LACFD.

Located in Marina del Rey, California Yacht Club was started in 1922 by a group of dedicated yachtsmen, turning into the present-day club that boasts 1,250 members.

“We are saddened this fire destroyed the historic and treasured California Yacht Club and join the community in keeping all those impacted by this fire in our thoughts and prayers,” LACFD wrote in a Facebook post .

Triton’s new toys and tenders issue is now out. Click here to read it.

Photo credit LACFD.

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Kevin Maher is Triton's editor-in-chief.

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California wildfires have already burned three times as many acres compared to all of 2023—and it’s about to get so much worse

TRABUCO CANYON, Calif. (AP) — Alex Luna, a 20-year-old missionary, saw the sky turn from a cherry red to black in about 90 minutes as  an explosive wildfire  raced toward the Southern California mountain community of Wrightwood and authorities implored residents to leave their belongings behind and get out of town.

“It was very, I would say, hellish-like,” Luna said Tuesday night. “It was very just dark. Not a good place to be at that moment. … Ash was falling from the sky like if it was snowing.”

Luna was among those who heeded the evacuation order that was issued for the community of about 4,500 in the San Gabriel Mountains east of Los Angeles. The Bridge Fire, which grew tenfold in a day and had burned 75 square miles (194 square kilometers) as of early Wednesday, is now the largest  of three major wildfires  burning in Southern California,  endangering tens of thousands of homes  and other structures.

The fires sprung to life during a triple-digit heat wave that finally broke Wednesday. The cooler temperatures brought the prospect of firefighters finally making headway against the flames.

Other major fires were  burning across the West , including in Idaho, Oregon and Nevada, where about 20,000 people had to flee a blaze outside Reno.

In Northern California, a fire that started Sunday burned at least 30 homes and commercial buildings and destroyed 40 to 50 vehicles in Clearlake City, 110 miles (117 kilometers) north of San Francisco. Roughly 4,000 people were forced to evacuate.

California is only now heading into the teeth of the wildfire season but already has seen nearly three times as much acreage burn than during all of 2023.

Evacuation orders were expanded Tuesday night in Southern California as the fires grew and included parts of the popular ski town Big Bear. Some 65,600 homes and buildings were under threat by the Line Fire, including those under mandatory evacuations and those under evacuation warnings, nearly double the number from the previous day.

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Residents along the southern edge of Big Bear Lake were told to leave the area, which is a popular destination for anglers, bikers and hikers. As of late Tuesday, the blaze had charred more than 54 square miles (140 square kilometers) of grass and brush with 14% containment, according to CalFire. It blanketed the area with a thick cloud of dark smoke.

The fire impacted key radio towers, including communication channels for those responding to the fire. Cooler weather could temper fire activity toward the end of the week, CalFire said in an update. Public safety power shutoffs were anticipated in parts of the Big Bear and Bear Valley areas.

The acrid air and safety concerns prompted several area districts to close schools through the end of the week. Three firefighters have been injured since the blaze was reported Thursday,  state fire managers  said.

For Wrightwood, a picturesque town 60 miles (97 kilometers) east of Los Angeles known for its 1930s cabins, threatening wildfires have become a regular part of life.  Authorities expressed frustration in 2016  when only half the residents heeded orders to leave.

Janice Quick, the president of the Wrightwood Chamber of Commerce, lives a few miles outside town. Late Tuesday afternoon she was eating lunch outside with friends and thumbnail-sized embers rained down on the table.

A friend texted to tell her that the friend’s home had been consumed by fire, while another friend watched through her ring camera as embers rained down on her home.

“I’ve never seen anything like this and I’ve been through fires before,” said Quick, a 45-year resident of Wrightwood.

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Concialdi said the fire was burning away from homes in Orange County, but there are 36 recreational cabins in the area. He said authorities don’t yet know if the cabins were damaged or destroyed.

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They didn’t evacuate despite a mandatory evacuation order in place since Monday. A neighbor did help Fankhauser’s 89-year-old mother-in-law evacuate, she said. The flames died down the previous night but flared up again in the morning.

“You can see fire coming over the ridge now,” Fankhauser said Tuesday afternoon. “It’s getting a little scarier now.”

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Fire crews extinguish boat fire near yacht club in Pompano Beach, no injuries

POMPANO BEACH, FLA. (WSVN) - Fire on the water as a boat is engulfed in flames in Pompano Beach.

Firefighters responded to a boat on fire behind the Pompano Beach Yacht Club Condos near Northeast 28th Avenue and 1st Street.

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Copyright 2024 Sunbeam Television Corp. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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Fire Consumes California Yacht Club in Marina Del Rey

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A yacht club that has been a fixture in Marina del Rey for half a century was consumed by flames overnight, injuring two firefighters and leaving longtime members and patrons devastated Tuesday by the sight of a local institution left largely in rubble.

The flames were reported around 11:30 p.m. Monday at the California Yacht Club in the 4400 block of Admiralty Way, according to the Los Angeles County Fire Department. The fire quickly went to a second alarm as on-scene commanders summoned more resources to the scene.

Two firefighters suffered injuries described as moderate while battling the flames and were taken to a hospital. Both were treated and later released.

The yacht club was founded in 1922 in Wilmington Harbor near San Pedro and the current facility in Marina del Rey was built in 1967, according to the club’s website.

Jeff Jackson, a Marina del Rey resident and longtime member of the club, shot cell phone video of the fire from his nearby 14th-floor condo. He told reporters the club was a welcoming gathering place.

“It just breaks my heart,” Jackson said. “I don’t know what they’re going to do for Christmas. … It doesn’t feel like a yacht club at all. It just feels like — I call it my `Cheers’ bar because it’s just so warm and inviting and as soon as you walk in the door, it’s `Hi J.J., how are you? How are the kids?’ And so it’s a very personal club. And I think anyone who is a member knows what I’m speaking of and the warmth and love we feel for them and they feel for us.”

Jackson said the club had recently switched to new owners, who were considering plans for remodeling the building.

A man who said he was the club’s former owner told OnScene.TV his father helped build the structure in the 1960s.

“This has been my home for, you know, 40 years, 50 years,” he said. “… It’s been a home for so many people. We are so heartbroken right now.”

According to reports from the scene, two employees may have been inside the building when the fire broke out, possibly near the kitchen. The cause of the blaze, however, remained under investigation.

The fire was restricted to the building, and no boats were damaged.

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