PITTSBURGH — Five adults and two children were on a boat that caught fire beneath the Fort Duquesne Bridge on Monday.
At least two of the adults and one of the children were burned.
One of those victims, Angela Baker, suffered third-degree burns according to the owners of the Pittsburgh Passion football team. Baker is quarterback for the Passion and she remained in the hospital on Tuesday.
Retired Passion player Krystal Cozzo was also on the boat. She said on Facebook that in addition to Baker, her sister and nephew were burned.
"It happened so fast," said Emily Saliba, a witness. "Next thing you know, like poof! Flames were everywhere."
Saliba was spending a day kayaking on the river when she saw smoke coming from the boat just feet away from her.
"We saw the family jumping off the boat. We actually pulled towards it and tried to have them hold on to our kayaks.
Police said a dog was also on the boat. The animal was wearing a life jacket.
River rescue was first on the scene, according to police. They attacked the fire with a hose while members of the fire department shot foam at the boat from the bridge above.
As the charred boat was towed to the shore, it caught fire for a second time.
Cox Media Group