The Fire: What You Need to Know

Sailors around the world felt heartbreak on Saturday, December 12 as scenes began to emerge of Annapolis YC catching fire and burning. We’re attempting to create a timeline of the weekend, filled in with as much information as we can confirm. We’ll update this page as more information becomes available.

Saturday, December 12.

2 p.m. The Club was closed to allow staff to prepare for a viewing of the Eastport Yacht Club Lights Parade, an Annapolis holiday tradition. Annapolis was anticipating a crowd of 20,000 spectators for the 6 p.m. start, much of the crowd using Eastport Bridge to view the parade. AYC was anticipating having 600 club members in the building to enjoy watching the parade.

Shortly after 2 p.m., a fire started on the third floor of the Club. Original reports stated that a Christmas tree was the first to set fire, but the source of the fire has not been confirmed by the Fire Department.

A statement from the water by Capital SUP owner Brian Zimmerman: "While SUP training on Spa Creek enjoying the beautiful day, we noticed some smoke coming out of the Annapolis Yacht Club. 5 minutes later, the whole building was in flames." In the first photo, flames are visible on the far right side of the building but fire crews had not arrived yet.

2:16 p.m.  A fire alarm monitoring company made a call to the Annapolis Police Department for a fire at the Club, located at 2 Compromise Street. “Multiple calls to the 911 center reported that smoke was coming from the building’s windows. The fire was immediately upgraded to a full box assignment,” said the Annapolis PD in a statement.

Fire responders arrived on the scene minutes later. “Heavy fire was showing when personnel arrived on scene,” and the fire was upgraded to a second and third alarm. Over 90 fire fighters arrived on the scene.

Staff managers successfully evacuated the entire staff, who were given two minutes to get out of the building. No severe injuries were reported. One fire fighter was taken to Anne Arundel Medical Center with a minor injury.

2:30 p.m. The fire raged through the second and third floors of the yacht club. The Spa Creek bridge was closed, and fire boats as well as trucks were seen shooting water into the second and third floors of the Club. The fire boat put 1000 gallons of water on the flame each minute, and was there for two hours.

[su_youtube url="https://youtu.be/KFs79lRVdQg"]

3 p.m. A crowd of spectators gathered both on land and on the water to watch the burning. The heat from the flames could be felt across the creek.

Annapolis Fire Fighters go to the roof at the Annapolis Yacht Club

A video posted by Mark Treglio (@iafftreg) on

3:45 p.m. EYC hoisted the AYC burgee in a show of solidarity.

[caption id="attachment_76457" align="aligncenter" width="440"]Photo by Alicia Tyrell Photo by Alicia Tyrell[/caption]

4:45 p.m. The Club caught fire for a second time, with flames shooting through the roof.

IMG_1173.JPG

5:15 p.m. With fire fighters still on the scene and much of downtown Annapolis suffering from traffic closures, Eastport YC announced that the Lights Parade had been canceled, as per the Mayor and City of Annapolis. However, they announced that a static display of lights would be happening on the docks outside their club. EYC also announced that they would host the last Frostbiting race of the season, offering lunch at their club with AYC staff on hand.

6:30 p.m. Fire fighters using a ladder to break open the roof of the yacht club were visible in the background as a dozen decorated boats took to the water despite the parade’s cancelation. Annapolitans gathered on the docks around Eastport and downtown Annapolis to watch the parade, cheering on the boats who decided to celebrate despite the heartbreak. All photos by Eric Moseson.

7 p.m. The fire was declared out.

10 p.m. All roads were reopened after the fire, as well as the Eastport bridge.  Firefighters stayed on scene overnight, picking through the debris and putting out new and old flames.

Sunday, December 13

9 a.m. Mid Atlantic Aerial Photography posted the following photos on their Facebook page of the aftermath.

12 noon. Fire fighters were seen pulling the Viking Trophy and other accompanying awards out of the front hall of AYC. A full inventory will be made by AYC officials, and announced later this week.

[caption id="attachment_76468" align="aligncenter" width="450"]Photo by Regina Welsh Photo by Regina Welsh[/caption]

1 p.m. Dozens of boats showed up to participate in the last frostbiting race of the AYC series, hosted by EYC. Instead of finishing boats off the porch at AYC, at the foot of the Eastport bridge, boats finished just inside Annapolis Harbor off Eastport YC. The scent of burgers grilled on the lawn by AYC staffers could be smelled from the water.

1:15 p.m. Annapolis YC released a statement, thanking the “quick response of both our staff and the first responders, who helped avoid any serious injuries.”

“Annapolis Yacht Club is more than the bricks and mortar of a clubhouse; it is a community. We are committed to rebuilding in the current location and in the interim are exploring opportunities to relocate elements of its operation.”

4:15 p.m. After touring the site, Mayor Mike Pantiledes posted the following picture of trophies removed from the Skipjack Room on the first floor of the building.

 From Mayor Michael Pantiledes's Facebook page. Click for source.

Monday, December 14

1 p.m. An all-staff meeting at the AYC annex brought the full staff together for a photo. With area restaurants and hotels offering to create positions for staff immediately out of work, the staff were informed of just how much AYC would be helping them throughout the next few months until reconstruction can take place. Currently, Stan and Joe's Saloon, Chart House Restaurant, Blackwall Hitch, the Ram's Head Group, and more have pledged to help staff find positions. The staff released their own statement to the public: "We are amazed by the amount of love and support that our members have expressed to us during this time. We are proud to be part of the AYC family. We all got together today and took this picture to thank you."

AYCstaff
Tuesday, December 15

7:30 a.m. AYC released  a statement going out to their members later this morning, in particular addressing the question of their staff's future. You can read the whole statement here.

"What will happen to the club's staff?
"The well-being of the AYC staff is of paramount importance. The leadership of AYC is fully committed to the Club's staff and has put into motion plans to support every staff member. AYC leadership is working closely with each individual member of the staff to make arrangements during this unique situation.

"Monetary support of staffers in the aftermath of the fire has been arranged in addition, plans are underway to establish an interim clubhouse location. The development of and operation of this interim clubhouse location will inclide roles for many current AYC staff.

"The Annapolis business community has responded to the situation with many generous, kind, and timely offers to provide employment for AYC staffers. AYC professional leadership is in communications with representatives from local restaurants and businesses and will work closely with all parties in the effort to make certain every AYC staffer is properly supported as necessary."

10:45 a.m. Eastport YC released a statement,offering their assistance and support to AYC staff and members. "The Eastport Yacht Club Board has been in contact with the AYC Board since Saturday and have offered our assistance and help in any way we can, as evidenced by EYC hosting the Frostbite Race Sunday. The EYC Board met last night to discuss several options we can offer to AYC and its members. We are prepared to meet with the AYC leadership when they are ready and able. In the meantime, please show a warm welcome to AYC members who come to EYC, as they are official guests of the club."

Wednesday, December 16

9 a.m. The Eastport YC announces that the Lights Parade will not be reschedule. "Despite what you may have heard or seen on the news, the 2015 Lights Parade will not be rescheduled.. Thanks to sponsors, skippers, and crews who did their best in support of this signature event, some even performing their own impromptu parades on whichever side of the Eastport Bridge they found themselves. See you next year!"

12 noon. Photos of the Viking and Merrythought trophies are released by Annapolis YC.

[caption id="attachment_77015" align="aligncenter" width="600"]Full models of Frers 63 MERRYTHOUGHT and Schooner Yacht AMERICA rescued from first deck of the Annapolis Yacht Club in the wake of the December 12, 2015 fire at the AYC Main Club House. MERRYTHOUGHT was owned and campaigned by club member Jack King. Photo courtesy of the Annapolis Yacht Club. Full models of Frers 63 MERRYTHOUGHT and Schooner Yacht AMERICA rescued from first deck of the Annapolis Yacht Club in the wake of the December 12, 2015 fire at the AYC Main Club House. MERRYTHOUGHT was owned and campaigned by club member Jack King. Photo courtesy of the Annapolis Yacht Club.[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_77014" align="aligncenter" width="600"]The VikThe Annapolis Yacht Club's Viking Trophy, one of the club's oldest and most highly regarded perpetual trophies, rescued from second deck of the Annapolis Yacht Club in the wake of the December 12, 2015 fire at the AYC Main Club House. The Viking Trophy was presented to the Annapolis Yacht Club in 1952 by AYC member John Trumpy, a boatbuilder whose facility was based across Spa Creek from the Main Clubhouse. Photo courtesy of the Annapolis Yacht Club. ing Trophy after the fire. Photo by David Gendell The VikThe Annapolis Yacht Club's Viking Trophy, one of the club's oldest and most highly regarded perpetual trophies, rescued from second deck of the Annapolis Yacht Club in the wake of the December 12, 2015 fire at the AYC Main Club House. The Viking Trophy was presented to the Annapolis Yacht Club in 1952 by AYC member John Trumpy, a boatbuilder whose facility was based across Spa Creek from the Main Clubhouse. Photo courtesy of the Annapolis Yacht Club.[/caption]

 

Friday, December 18
AYC announced in a statement that the racing schedule for 2016 is unaffected by recent events.

"The Annapolis Yacht Club is pleased to report that the entire 2016 racing calendar will continue as scheduled, including Frostbite Races, Wednesday Night Races, Junior Regattas, Charity Regattas, and all annual and scheduled weekend races. The 2016 Annapolis Yacht Club schedule includes the Annapolis NOOD Regatta, the U.S. Women’s Match Racing Championship, the U.S. Sailing Match Race Qualifier, and several other national events. The 2016 schedule also includes the annual AYC-hosted fundraising regatta for Chesapeake Region Accessible Boating (CRAB). AYC’s leadership role in the Annapolis Leukemia Cup and Hospice Cup charity regattas will continue as well."

Monday, December 21
Fire investigators concluded that the cause of the fire was an electrical malfunction with a pre-lit, 15-foot tall artificial Christmas tree. The fire caused nine million dollars in damage.