PRESCOTT – Several boats were burned in a fire Sunday afternoon at Miss Croix Yacht Harbor in Prescott, though no injuries occurred.

According to Marina Board President Becky Gesswein, boaters at the marina saw the flames coming from a boat and called 911 just after noon on July 5. The cause of the fire is under investigation.

Gesswein said fiberglass is highly flammable and once the fire started, it spread quickly.

“We are so grateful to the neighboring boaters who jumped into action and were able to move at least two boats out of harm’s way,” she said. “Unfortunately, the boats immediately next to the fire could not be cut loose in time due to the intense heat and how quickly the flames spread. Attempting to do so would have put more people and potentially the rest of the marina at risk. As heartbreaking as the damage is, we know this could have been so much worse. We are incredibly lucky that more boats were not damaged and, most importantly, that no one was hurt. We are also fortunate that some boaters were out enjoying a beautiful day on the river, which meant several slips were empty at the time.”

Gesswein said the marina, which is owned by its members and governed by a board of six, is still assessing the full extent of the damage.

“Our hearts are with the boat owners whose boats were damaged in the fire. We know how devastating this is,” she said. “Our boating community is a great group of people. Our first priority is safely moving the fire-damaged boats and getting them out of the water so we can begin the process of restoring power to the affected areas of the marina. Once the boats have been removed, we will have a better understanding of any additional damage. At this time, we do expect there may be damage to docks and to the services boaters rely on at those slips. No buildings were damaged. The fire occurred on the peninsula side of the marina, where no buildings are located.”

The marina remains open for business. Gesswein said boaters are welcome to continue enjoying their boats. The gas dock remains open to the public.

“We are working to have the damaged boats removed from the water as quickly and safely as possible (within the next day) so our mechanical services can resume and we can help get boaters back on the water who are waiting to do so,” she said.

Gesswein estimates Prescott Fire and other responding agencies had the fire contained by 3 p.m.

“We want to extend our deepest thanks to all of the emergency personnel who responded so quickly and professionally during this incident,” Gesswein said. “Prescott Fire and Prescott Police were on site, along with neighboring fire departments, emergency personnel, Sheriff’s departments, and conservation officers.... I hope I'm not forgetting anyone! We are incredibly grateful for their fast response, calm leadership and the care they showed for our marina and boating community. 

“I also want to personally recognize our own marina team. When I called our crew, they immediately dropped what they were doing and came to help. That speaks volumes about how much they care... not only about their jobs, but about the people and families who make up this marina. We are also thankful for the boaters and marina members who stepped in to help move boats, support one another and look out for their neighbors. In an otherwise devastating situation, the response from this community was overwhelmingly positive. Everyone who showed up worked together with focus, urgency, and compassion. It was truly a collaborative effort, and we are so grateful to every single person who helped.”

It was almost a year ago that a boat exploded at the fuel dock at Miss Croix Yacht Harbor on July 26, 2025, sending 11 people on board into the Mississippi River and injuring several.
According to the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources report, the operator of the vessel had attempted to start the boat’s engine multiple times while docked for refueling. On the third attempt, the engine exploded. The force of the blast hurled everyone on board into the river.

Miss Croix Yacht Harbor is located at 451 S. Second St., Prescott. The member-owned marina opened in 1999.