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Harrowing video shows the moment a group of Nebraska vacationers narrowly escaped death after their tourist boat went up in flames just off the coast of a popular Florida beach destination.
The incident unfolded just before 11 a.m. on Thursday, when a group of tourists from Omaha boarded the 40-foot vessel named “Size Matters” for a trip from Fort Lauderdale to the Florida Keys, according to WSVN.
“We were running with several other MTI boats, we were on like a poker run or get together,” boat owner Peter Fink told the outlet.
As the group was approximately a quarter mile off the coast of Miami Beach, they reportedly noticed a burning smell coming from the vessel.
CRUISE SHIP ABRUPTLY CHANGES COURSE TO RESCUE PEOPLE IN DISTRESSED BOAT: ‘KNEW SOMETHING’ WAS UP
A 40-foot boat named “Size Matters” became engulfed in flames as it carried a group of tourists from Nebraska roughly a quarter mile off the coast of Miami Beach, Florida on Thursday, March 12, 2026. (Cristian Valles via Storyful)
“Smelled some smoke and, you know, slowed down, figured out it’s our boat,” Fink said.
Video captured by witnesses shows the five-engine vessel engulfed in flames, with thick plumes of black smoke rising into the air.
Fink and the group of travelers reportedly began using a fire extinguisher to try to keep the fire from spreading, but ultimately determined they needed to escape the burning vessel and began trying to signal to nearby boaters.
“We waved down a boat actually, shot the fire extinguisher a bit up into the air so they could see the smoke from the fire extinguisher and it kind of caught their attention and they pulled over to us and they were amazing,” passenger Jason James told WSVN.
An Ocean Rescue boat subsequently noticed the flames and rushed to the boat to rescue its passengers, with the family members coming together to lift each other to safety.
FATAL FIRE ENGULFS CRUISE SHIP WITH HUNDREDS OF PASSENGERS ABOARD: ‘I PANICKED’
Miami-Dade Fire Rescue vessels extinguish a fire that broke out on a 40-foot boat named “Size Matters” roughly a quarter mile off the coast of Miami Beach, Florida on Thursday, March 12, 2026. (Miami-Dade Fire Rescue)
“We had our heroes here that saved us all, threw us on the other boat,” passenger Irelynn James reportedly said.
Following the passengers’ evacuation, Miami-Dade Fire Rescue units arrived by air and sea to assist in emergency efforts, and later towed the charred remains to the nearby Haulover Inlet.
“Luckily no one fell in, nobody – we didn’t have to jump in, so it’s all good,” Fink told the outlet.
FLORIDA BOATER RESCUES TWO PEOPLE FROM VESSEL ENGULFED IN FLAMES OFF COAST
No injuries were reported after a fire broke out on a 40-foot boat named “Size Matters” roughly a quarter mile off the coast of Miami Beach, Florida on Thursday, March 12, 2026. (Miami-Dade Fire Rescue)
Despite the boat being completely destroyed in the blaze, the family’s luggage was reportedly unharmed and recovered from the wreckage, allowing them to continue on with their trip.
“I figured it wasn’t my time to go yet,” James said. “It was their trip and I decided to tag along so I could do something for my birthday in two more days; I’m just trying to get to 20.”
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Authorities have not specified the cause of the fire and no injuries were reported, Miami-Dade Fire Rescue confirmed to Fox News Digital.