MEDFORD — A fire broke out on a boat in the Wellington Yacht Club's storage lot early Friday, causing gas explosions that severely damaged two other boats and shot flames into the air above the boatyard, State Police said.
The blaze started about 6:15 a.m. in the Medford lot, and no one was injured, State Trooper James Vines said. The fire began on one boat and spread to another, and the plastic covers of six other boats burned, Vine said.
The state fire marshal's office and Medford Fire Department are investigating the fire, but Vines said the fact that it broke out in the dark amid rain makes it suspicious.
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"This is supposed to be like a storage lot. Most of these boats are covered and out [of the water] for the season," Vines said.
Firefighters extinguished the flames several times, but the gasoline in the boats' tanks repeatedly ignited, causing flare ups, Vines said.
The fire was under control at 7:45 a.m.
Fuel leaked to the ground, causing small fires beneath the boats that made it more difficult for firefighters to battle the flames.
Fire trucks blocked off a parking garage on Constitution Way, preventing some residents from getting to work.
John R. Ellement of the Globe staff contributed to this report. Dylan McGuinness can be reached at dylan.mcguinness@globe.com.