ALGOMA, WI (WTAQ) – Lakshore communities in Kewaunee County will be having a special Blessing of the Fleet Friday in Algoma.
The event was put together to remember the June 23, 2016 Algoma Marina fire that damaged boats and caused quite a scare.
Troy Mattson of Kinn’s Sport Fishing says they got idea of the Blessing of the Fleet from another community.
“It is an old accent Mediterranean tradition that pretty much every major port on the eastern sea has taken on.”
The event will honor the work of the Algoma Fire Department and proceeds will go towards the fire department.
Mattson had four boats damaged that day. Algoma Fire Chief Tom Ackerman says many lessons were learned that day.
“Limiting the number of people that are on the boats throughout the evening hours. We are looking at appliances that being used to heat their boats and things like that.”
He says he remembered how quickly everyone reacted.
“We had a number of different individuals that were jumping into the water to move boats from catching on fire.”
Mattson says the idea is to thank those who helped that night and come together as a boating community.
A trout boil will also take place.
This is the 1st Annual event.
The details of the fire remain under investigation even two years later.
