THE OWNER / OPERATOR LAUNCHED THE VESSEL ON TIMS FORD LAKE AT THE END OF LUTTRELL DRIVE IN WINCHESTER. HE LEFT THE RAMP AND HEADED TOWARDS HIS BOAT DOCK AND SAID THAT HE MADE IT LESS THAN 100 YARDS WHEN THE ENGINE HATCH BLEW OFF AND THE ENTIRE ENGINE AREA WAS ON FIRE. THE OPERATOR STATED THAT HE DID NOT USE THE FIRE EXTINGUISHER BUT DUMPED OUT A TOOLBOX ON BOARD AND TRIED SHOVELING WATER ONTO THE FIRE. HE STATED THAT HE TRIED PUTTING OUT THE FIRE FOR APPROXIMATELY 4 MINUTES THEN GRABBED A P.F.D. AND JUMPED OVERBOARD. FRANKLIN COUNTY RESCUE SQUAD AND WINCHESTER FORE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED ON SCENE. WHEN THE RESCUE SQUAD ATTEMPTED TO TOW THE BOAT TO THE RAMP TO ALLOW THE FIRE DEPARTMENT TO PUT OUT THE FIRE, THE BOAT FELL APART AND SANK. THE OWNER WAS NOT INJURED AND REFUSED MEDICAL ATTENTION.
WINCHESTER                    