ON SATURDAY JULY 4TH, 2009 AT APPROXIMATELY 7:20PM A MOTOR BOAT NC 5677 BS WAS DOCKED AT J&J MARINE ON LAKE TILLERY NEAR NORWOOD.  THREE PERSONS WERE ONBOARD, THE OPERATOR TURNED THE BLOWER ON FOR A COUPLE OF MINUTES AND THEN ATTEMPTED TO START THE ENGINE.  UPON STARTING THE ENGINE THERE WAS AN EXPLOSION AND FIRE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT OF THE BOAT.  A PASSENGER SITTING IN THE STERN OF THE BOAT NEAR THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT SUSTAINED BURNS TO BOTH HIS LEGS AND PARTS OF HIS TORSO.  TWO OTHERS IN THE BOAT THE OPERATOR AND HIS WIFE WERE SINGED BY THE FLAMES.  SEVERAL BYSTANDERS HELPED BY PUTTING THE FIRE OUT USING A NEARBY FIRE EXTINGUISHER AND CALLING STANLY COUNTY EMS..  occupant WAS TRANSPORTED TO STANLY REGIONAL HOSPITAL FOR TREATMENT.  UPON INNVESTIGATION, THE BOAT WAS EQUIPPED WITH A BACK FIRE FLAME ARRESTOR BUT IT IS UNCLEAR IF IT OR THE BLOWER WERE WORKING PROPERLY AT THE TIME OF THE EXPLOSION.  THE BOAT WAS EQUIPPED WITH THE PROPER TYPE, SIZE AND READELY ACCESSIBLE PFDS. THERE IS NO EVIDENCE OF DRUG OR ALCOHOL USE CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT.
NORWOOD                       