Operator stated he had just filled the vessel with fuel before starting the engine.  He stated he had turned on the blower before trying the ignition switch to start the boat.  It was not clear if he ran the blower for four minutes.  

When tried to start the boat, he heard a noise from the stern of the vessel.  Operator also said that the ventilation blower was on before he tried to start.  The others on the boat saw flames and smoke coming from the bottom of the engine compartment when they opened the cover, so they exited the boat onto the dock. The operator looked for the fire extinguisher, but it was in the engine compartment where the fire was.  Another person on the dock brought a fire extinguisher and nearly put out the flames, but it re-ignited.  

The police arrived and used a second extinguisher, almost putting the fire out, but it re-ignited again.  The fire continued through the hull of the vessel.  When the fire department arrived, the vessel was fully engulfed in fire.  They extinguished the fire but the vessel was a total loss.  

the owner/operator said it may have been caused by a faulty fuel line at the top of the fuel tank.  The Bonney Lake Police Department officer inspecting the burned boat could not confirm whether the blower had worked prior to the fire.

Bonney Lake                   