SHORTLY AFTER REFUELING AT THE RIDGE MARINA. VESSEL #1 WAS LEAVING THE DECKING AREA WHEN THE OPERATOR STATES HE HEARD A SMALL POP AND NOTICED FLAMES COMING FROM THE DECK. THE FLAMES WERE EXTINGUISHED AND SHORTLY ANOTHER AREA AROUND THE ENGINE FLAMED UP. THE OPERATOR ATTEMPTED TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE AND ASKED THE PASSENGERS TO JUMP OVERBOARD. THEY THEN SWAM TO SAFETY. THE VESSEL DRIFTED TO A SMALL SLOUGH NEAR THE MARINA WHERE IT BURNED TO THE WATERLINE. THE WINDMERE FIRE DEPT EXTINGUSHED THE FIRE AND WAS ATTEMPTING TO TOW THE VESSEL TO SHORE WHEN IT SANK TO THE BOTTOM OF LAKE MARTIN.
ALEXANDER CITY                