Tiffany Yachts suffers major fire
by Starke Jett
| Randy Cockrell and his father Tiffany talk about the recent fire that destroyed most of their historic boatyard. (videos by Mike Kucera) |
More than 100 firefighters from Fairfields, Callao, Kilmarnock, White Stone, Upper Lancaster, Richmond County and Cople District volunteer fire departments were called. The fire started about 2:30 p.m., according to neighbors.
A building complex used for boat construction and repair was fully involved when the first trucks arrived from Fairfields VFD shortly before 3 p.m. Thick black smoke from the fire could be seen from miles away.
The intense blaze, which was sending flames more than 50 feet into the sky, threatened a half-dozen luxury yachts that were within a few yards of the buildings and nearby residences. A narrow driveway created access problems, said Fairfields fire chief Phillip Keyser, who was in charge of the fire scene.
“We had a lot of exposure issues,” Keyser said. “There were propane tanks, gas tanks, paint supplies and many other flammable materials. It was a very heavy fire load.”
Keyser said it was the worst fire he has been involved with since another boat-related fire at Buzzard Point Marina in Fairport in the 1980s. He said the quick response and “amazing” cooperation among all the fire departments were the main reasons the fire didn’t spread.
| Local boatbuilding legend Tiffany Cockrell on the history of Tiffany Yachts. |
The major part of the fire was knocked down within an hour, saving the boats that were hauled out, although one suffered some heat damage, Keyser said. One boat under construction and another boat stored inside the buildings were destroyed, said Randy Cockrell, one of the owners of the firm. There were no injuries, according to Keyser and Cockrell.
“It started back where we had a new boat that was almost finished,” said Cockrell, standing on the back porch of his father’s nearby home as he watched the firefighters work. “I have no idea what started it,” he said
His father, Tiffany Cockrell, grew up at the boatyard, which belonged first to his father. He was dismayed by the devastating fire.
“It’s a lifetime of work,” he said, as the fire was still burning just a few yards away.
Virginia State Police and the Northumberland County Sheriff’s Department diverted traffic as far away as Wicomico Church and Burgess on Route 200 for about five hours. Fire trucks lined the highway until about 8 p.m.
One truck and five or six firefighters remained on the scene until 5:30 a.m, Keyser said. The cause of the fire is under investigation, according to Keyser.
Randy Cockrell said the buildings were insured and the company will rebuild. “We’ll get back in business as soon as we can,” he said.
Tiffany Yachts is well known on the east coast and beyond as a builder of highly customized, one-of-a-kind yachts up to 80 feet long.