Three children and 2 adults were on vessel #1.  Owner was unhooking the boat from trailer and told his wife to start the engine.  When she turning the key, they heard a loud explosion and saw flames from engine compartment.  Flames spread fast and with little time, she got the children and herself off the boat.  Owner also yelled to get off and went for the kids and his wife.  Operator also grabbed the children, and once they were all off, owner pushed boat away from launch site as not to injure anyone on shore.  Fuel tank had just been topped off to 50 gallons.  Five people on the boat were injured, none life threatening, and were transported to area hospitals, two stayed for 2 days in the hospital with burn wounds, 3 had minor wounds.  Boat was totalled and completely burned, after the explosion. The explosion was so intense, it felt like an earthquake, one witness said, and 70 yards away you could still feel the heat.  Another witness said, they were starting the boat and something blew.  All people on board were able to jump in the water  escape the fire. and swim to safety.

I called owner of boat on 10/20/2010 4:45 pm.
He stated that no one knew why the boat blew up.  It was not a mechanical problem, not an airing problem.   There was nothing they could have done to prevent it.  They still don't know what caused it.  The sheriff department did not either.  It was purely accidental.
His wife still has a lot of scars and was burned very badly and still sufferes.  Of course the boat was totalled.

Texas Township                