On august 11, 2013, operator along with 5 other adult passengers and 2 juvenile passengers (both under 13 years old) dropped their vessel into the water at river bend access area on mountain island lake.  As they left the access area and approached the edge of the no wake zone, operator began to accelerate out of the no wake zone heading northeast on mountain island lake.  Only seconds after accelerating, she and the other passengers on board heard an explosion in the engine compartment and began to smell smoke and quickly after saw a fire coming from the engine compartment.  Operator's husband, who was a passenger on board attempted to extinguish the fire with a type b1 fire extinguisher, but was unsuccessful at putting out the fire.  Another vessel who witnessed the fire quickly pulled beside the burning vessel and got everyone off the boat safely and took them back to shore at river bend accesss area.  Myself and officer got on board at mt. Holly fire department vessel and assisted in extinguishing the fire.  The vessel was fully engulfed in flames when we arrived at the vessel.  After extinguishing the fire and towing the vessel back to the dock, in interviewed the passengers and all stories matched the operator's.  There was no alcohol or drugs involved in the accident and appeared to be started by an explosion of gasoline vapors in the engine compartment.
MOUNT HOLLY