On Friday, January 6, 1989 at 0242, Cecil County, Maryland fire headquarters received a call from a resident located three-quarters of a mile across the river from the Bohemia Bay Marina. The caller thought he could see a fire at a marina around Bohemia Bay, but due to poor visibility caused by snowfall as well as the distance and time of night, he could not be certain as to its exact location. The fire dispatcher immediately contacted the state police. The nearest officer was 18 miles from the marina and took 45 minutes to locate the fire, where he discovered at least 10 boats on fire. At 0327, he requested fire apparatus.