Authorities have released the names of the two women who tragically lost their lives in a boat fire that broke out in Long Beach earlier this month.
On August 5, a fire ignited on a 35-foot pleasure craft at Alamitos Bay near the 200 block of Marina Drive, resulting in the deaths of two individuals and critically injuring three others. The two female victims have been identified as 60-year-old Margaret Lynn Gentry from Inglewood and 75-year-old Sharon Gentry from Atlanta, Georgia.
The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner’s Office listed Margaret’s cause of death as blunt head trauma and thermal burns, while Sharon’s cause of death was recorded as thermal burns and smoke inhalation.
Long Beach fire crews responded to the burning craft around 5:17 p.m. The boat was discovered near a fuel dock close to Fire Station 21. Eyewitness accounts and images from the scene depicted large smoke plumes covering the pier as onlookers watched the unfolding tragedy.
The boat, charred and apparently completely damaged at the stern, was thought to be in the midst of refueling or had just finished when the fire broke out. Investigators are considering the possibility that accumulated fumes ignited, though this detail remains unconfirmed.
This unfortunate incident serves as a poignant reminder of the importance of safety measures when boating and refueling. The exact cause of the fire remains unclear as the investigation continues.