Mom, daughter jump from burning yacht to escape fire

ST. PETERSBURG (FOX 13) - A mom and her young daughters escaped from their burning yacht in waters off St. Petersburg Tuesday morning.

St. Pete Fire Rescue responded to the 25-foot sailboat fire, which was 50 to 75 feet offshore at 6th Street South and 35th Avenue in Coquina Key.

Jahrah King said he, his wife and their toddler daughter were living on their new boat, which was one of two the family owns. He said his wife was cooking, but their new stove was unfamiliar and she may have used too much fuel, causing the fire. 

The two were able to jump from the burning yacht to escape the flames. The mother suffered first and second degree burns to approximately 15 percent of her body.

King said sailing is his family's life, but now they will have to rebuild some of that life after it went up in flames. He was just glad his wife and daughter will be okay.

"That was pretty much our home. That was our second boat. We invested a lot of money in it. We were going cruising until [our daughter] was ready to go to school. Everything was on there," King said. "I am extremely grateful my family hasn't been hurt. Extremely grateful. Oh my God, you have no idea. But however. it is a total loss for our home."