Father and son in good condition following Marblehead boat fire

MARBLEHEAD – A father and son whose boat caught on fire Thursday night in Marblehead Harbor are in good condition, and both were released from the hospital for non-life threatening injuries.Boat owner Arnold Heitmann, 60, of Swampscott, was released from Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston Thursday night with minor face injuries and a dislocated shoulder, according to Fire Chief Jason Gilliland. Heitmann?s 90-year-old father, who police did not identify, was released from the hospital Friday.?I saw Arnold walk out of the hospital around 11 p.m. last night,” Gilliland said. “He seemed fine and was talking with his wife.”Although there was heavy smoke coming from their 45-foot sailboat, Gilliland said their injuries weren?t as serious as they had originally thought. According to the fire incident report, the fire began as firefighters received the alarm call at 5:10 p.m., arrived at 5:13 p.m. and cleared by 7:56 p.m. Thursday.?I talked to the discharge nurse,” Gilliland said. “Arnold had black soot on his face, which looked bad, but once they cleaned it up, it wasn?t as bad as it appeared.”Neither suffered severe burns or severe lacerations to the head on the 1981 boat that the father and son built themselves called the Sundowner.According to firefighter Eric Ridge, of the Fire Investigation Unit, the cause of the fire was an electrical short in the alternator of the Marblehead-moored boat, which Ridge said is uncommon. Heitmann was in the cabin working on the alternator when a wire hit a piece of metal, holding the charge, that caused the spark, Ridge said.?I can only speculate right now,” Ridge said. “I have to interview him to have details beyond that.”Det. Sean Brady, of the Marblehead Police Department, who is also investigating the fire, said he doesn?t believe it was intentionally set, and it appears to be electrical.Firefighters estimated the contents loss to be $10,000, and property loss is $15,000. The pre-incident value of the boat is $35,000, and the contents are valued at $30,000. Damage was to the engine, running gear and wheel area – all of which are primarily below the deck – written in the report.According to Lt. Joseph Thibodeau, the passengers left the boat with injuries prior to their arrival.?Smoke was showing from the dock on arrival and the Harbor Master reported that passengers had left the boat with injuries,” Thibodeau said. “Those passengers were brought to Tucker?s Wharf and Ladder One crew provided patient care.”