News Release

A note of gratitude from the superintendent

Date: July 12, 2024
Contact: [e-mail]

Dear Lake Mead Community Partners and Friends,

In the early morning hours of Sunday, June 9, a devastating fire broke out and quickly spread at the Las Vegas Boat Harbor Marina, engulfing “I” and “R” docks and many boats moored there. Luckily, nobody was seriously injured or killed in the fire, but many boats were damaged or destroyed.

My deepest condolences go out to the affected owners on this unexpected event. We recognize the fire resulted in damage to – or complete loss of boats and the cherished memories they brought for many people. I realize the road ahead of recovery, removal and coordination with insurance companies and others will be difficult and disruptive. Our staff at Lake Mead National Recreation Area will continue to assist where we can.

Though the fire caused hardships for boat owners and disrupted operations at the marina, the incident also highlighted the quick thinking, resilience, and fantastic work of a number of people who pulled together to quickly and safely extinguish the fire, to manage the fire’s aftermath while keeping the marina open to visitors, and to support the fire investigation, along with providing myriad coordination, logistical, and other support.

The investigation into the cause of the fire continues, but I want to take a moment now to share my deepest gratitude with all who have played a pivotal role in managing, responding to, and cleaning up after this significant incident. The support and professionalism demonstrated by our interagency partners, marina staff and our dedicated interagency employees have been nothing short of extraordinary.

First and foremost, I wish to thank the emergency response teams whose quick actions ensured the safety of everyone involved. The Boulder City and Henderson fire departments, Clark County crews, Lake Mead National Recreation Area rangers and emergency medical services staffs were instrumental in controlling the situation and preventing further damage. Their swift and coordinated efforts were critical to quickly extinguishing the fire with no reported major injuries. This was a clear demonstration of their expertise and commitment to safety.

Second, a big thanks goes out to the Gripentog family and their entire staff at the Las Vegas Boat Harbor, who immediately jumped in on initial fire response, and who have worked tirelessly ever since to quickly and thoroughly coordinate with affected boat owners, the public, the National Park Service, insurance companies, and a host of others. Due to their herculean efforts, the “I” and “R” docks were quickly secured, boat owners were quickly notified about the incident, and overall harbor operations continued, despite the damage and chaos caused by the fire.

I also want to acknowledge the tireless work of our colleagues from other agencies who did follow-on work. The State of Nevada Fire Marshal, The Environmental Protection Agency, and our colleagues from other National Park Service locations stepped up to assist. The Southern Network Incident Commander, Mark Hnat came in from Channel Islands National Park, Omar

Ortiz, from our Pacific West Region office led the safety coordination, the NPS Investigative Services Branch is spearheading the investigation, and law enforcement personnel responded from Death Valley, Olympic and Golden Gate National Parks to secure the fire area. Every single person jumped in and flawlessly worked with their counterparts here to bring valuable expertise and to provide whatever support was needed.

Representatives from the local business community are playing a key role as well. For example, Tow Boat USA, Las Vegas Scuba, and LMNRA Guest Services LLC quickly sprang into action and are working together to remove the sunken boats and other debris from the bottom of the harbor. This has helped the fire investigation, it’s made the area safer, and it’s given the boat owners a chance to better coordinate damage with their insurance companies.

I would be remiss if I didn’t recognize the Lake Mead staff who have managed this event through every phase of operations. Our law enforcement, operations, Lake Mead Interagency Communication Center, commercial services, resources and compliance, safety and other staff members were quickly on scene after the fire struck, and they have worked tirelessly ever since to manage the aftermath of the fire. Their commitment to service, safety and results exemplifies the spirit of the National Park Service.

Finally, I wish to thank our boating community and other park visitors, who have been patient and supportive of us as we worked to get operations back online and determine the cause of the accident. We are committed to supporting you as we move forward. The community’s resilience and unity have been inspiring, and together, we will recover, rebuild, and continue our long tradition of providing world-class marina support to the local community.