What we know about Alabama dock fire: Four of eight who died were children

Recovery and cleanup crews worked through foggy weather Tuesday morning after a fire torched an Alabama dock, killing at least eight people - four of them children - and scorching almost three dozen boats.

An Alabama coroner said Tuesday that four of the eight victims were children. Jackson County Coroner John Jordan hasn’t released the identities of any of the victims but said the children were ages 7, 9, 10 and 16 years old, WHNT-TV reported. A cause of death has not been released.

The blaze broke out early Monday in Scottsboro at a dock that housed boats, houseboats and pontoon vessels, some for recreation and others that served as homes.

The fire at the Jackson County Park Marina sent people leaping into the river.

Scottsboro Fire Chief Gene Necklaus told reporters Tuesday that the eight missing people were confirmed dead but that investigators are "cautiously confident" the death toll won't rise. Jackson County Emergency Management Agency Director Paul Smith said dive teams were on site to confirm that only eight deaths occurred.

Authorities have not said what caused the blaze, but Necklaus said one boat is the focus of the investigation.

"It's fair to say they are at least looking at one boat in particular, not to say that they won't rule that out and move on to the next area," he said.

How many boats burned?

At least 35 vessels burned. Boats docked there ranged from 20 feet to more than 40 feet.

Some boats sank at the dock while others drifted from their moorings and sank, Necklaus said. The fire broke out on the inland side of the dock, making rescues difficult, he said.

Seven people were pulled from the cold water and treated for minor injuries, mainly hypothermia, Necklaus said.

What was the scene like on the dock?

Julie Jackson has lived in a boat at the docks with her husband and child for five years.

Monday, they awoke to a crackling sound. By the time she got off her boat to look, the fire had engulfed half of the dock that mirrors theirs across the water. 

"I could hear people screaming, 'Help me,' " she told The Gadsden Times, part of the USA TODAY Network. "I never want to go through anything like that again."

Mandy Durham and her boyfriend woke up to the sounds of pops. "We could see red through the window," she said.

She said she saw people leap into the water after a boat ignited at the end of the dock.

"Water was the only place they had to go," Durham said.

What's next in the investigation?

Smith said it may take weeks to clear the debris and complete the investigation. Federal and state authorities were aiding in the efforts.

"There's nothing easy about it. You're dealing with fire and fire unfortunately destroys evidence. It takes quite a bit more time to piece everything back together," he said.

The boat at the center of the investigation has been removed from the water and taken to a secure location, Necklaus said.

It could take up to six months in some cases to confirm the identities of the deceased depending upon the forensic investigation, he said.

The Associated Press reported Tuesday that the smell of gasoline was strong and scorched propane tanks floated in an oily sheen on the water. Floating barriers contained much of the pollution as crews worked through the wreckage.

Smith also said oil pollution from the incident is not expected to cause a significant human or environmental impact. The waters at the marina feed into the Tennessee River.

Contributing: John Bacon, USA TODAY; Donna Thornton, The Gadsden Times in Scottsboro; The Associated Press