Authorities Confirm Deaths; 7 Hospitalized, 7 Missing In Jackson County Park Dock Fire

Authorities confirmed fatalities, seven hospitalized and seven more missing after a fire destroyed 35 boats at Jackson County Park dock, along Tennessee River, on Monday.

According to U.S. News, the fire was reported around 12:30 am while most of the people in the community were sleeping aboard the vessels and destroyed the wooden dock and an aluminium roof that covered many boats, blocking escape routes and leaving debris in the river.

Jackson County Chief Sheriff's Deputy Rocky Harnen told Associated Press that many of the people who were rescued from the water escaped the fire by jumping into the river and divers were sent to look for possible victims in the river.

“We have some confirmed fatalities, but we don't have an exact number yet,” Harnen said. “We have several people who were taken to the hospital from being in the water, and some had minor burns."

The people who were rescued from the water were taken to the hospital to be treated for burns and potential hypothermia and were reported be in stable conditions, Scottsboro Fire Chief Gene Mecklaus said in a CNN report.

Harnen said that they trying to account for the seven missing victims; a task, he added, that proved to be a challenge.

"The damage from the dock has fallen on top of the boats, and some of the boats have drifted off," he said.

The Jackson County Emergency Management Agency said that the rescue operations and the firefighting are done on land and in the water.