Investigation revealed: Tpr. and I were detailed to the above location reference a vessel fire.  Upon arrival, Stone Harbor Fire Department was on scene and extinguishing the fire.  Chief of the Stone Harbor Fire Department was identified as the incident commander.  
We made our way to the rear dock (39.0560352 74.7635401) of 381 96th Street, I observed fire personnel extinguishing a fire damaged vessel.  Vessel #1 was moored in the slip of 381 96th Street, City of Stone Harbor, Cape May County, with no occupants at the time of the fire.  The starboard midship engine, engine hatch and gunnel sustained fire damage, but the vessel was still afloat.  
I spoke with Chief of the Stone Harbor Fire Department who stated the starboard engine compartment located midship was engulfed with fire and a motor or motors appeared to be running upon their arrival.  Chief further stated the battery cables were cut which to terminate the motor(s).  It was not determined whether the suspected engine running was the main engine(s) or the generator.  When questioned, Chief stated other than the motor(s) possibly running, he did not detect anything suspicious in nature or apparent in regards to how the fire started.  
I then boarded the vessel and canvassed the same for any evidence of the cause of the fire.  The vessel was connected to shore power at the time of the fire, the power supply showed no signs of damage.  The battery switches were in the off position, but may have been manipulated by fire personnel.  The port motor appeared to be unscathed, but, the starboard motor appeared to sustained substantial damage with the starboard engine hatch and starboard gunnel.  Serve thunderstorms were passing through the area at the time of the fire.  The vessel displayed no obvious signs of a lighting strike. 
Subject stated he and his son were home at the time of the fire.  Subject explained his son had opened the rear sliding door of his residence to check the weather and observed the vessel on fire.  Son wasn’t available at the time of my arrival but stated during a follow up telephone conversation (07/13/11 - 1130), that he detected smell of smoke and then observed the fire upon further investigation.  He approached the vessel via his adjacent dock, but didn’t want to get too close.  When questioned, Son stated he didn’t observe the vessel’s motors running, being familiar with the sound.  
I then spoke with the vessel owner via telephone, who stated he was at his primary residence, but would be at his vessel the following day.  When questioned, owner stated he hadn’t had any mechanical issues with the vessel and wasn’t aware of how the fire could have started.  In a later telephone conversation (07/10/11 - 1645), owner stated the vessel was owned outright and provided his insurance information.  owner had also had a mechanic access the damage and estimate the cost of full repair to be approximately $75 - $80K, but his insurance adjuster had yet to access the damage.  
The undersigned contacted the Arson / Bomb Unit via the R.O.I.C. and was advised they would respond to the vessel the following morning to continue the investigation.  
07/13/2011 Wednesday 
The undersigned contacted the Arson / Bomb Unit.  He advised that the vessel was processed on 07/09/2011 and cause of the fire was classified as undetermined electrical.

Stone Harbor                  