Severe weather conditions combined with lightning strikes are said to have been responsible for the outbreak of the fire on the 56-metre-long Benetti newbuilding FB 261. As nobody was asleep on board, it took a relatively long time for the fire to be noticed. The yacht, which was moored at the shipyard quay and has a Bannenberg & Rowell interior, was initially tackled by the shipyard's own fire brigade, with the municipal colleagues from Livorno later taking over. There were no casualties.
Although the pictures taken by the fire brigade (see link) show that the yacht with its steel hull and aluminium superstructure was very badly damaged, Benetti announced in an official statement that the yacht would be lifted out of the water at short notice and repaired as quickly as possible.
Official pictures of the Livorno fire brigade: http://www.vigilfuoco.it/sitiVVF/livorno/galleria.aspx?codnews=21039&s=861&index=1&idfoto=98062&prov=
