BOAT OPERATOR-OWNER WAS IN TRANSIT FROM THE FIRST STREET BOAT LANDING (HIS PONTOON BOAT HAD BEEN DELIVERED TO THE LANDING) FROM WINTER STORAGE. HE WAS DRIVING HIS TO HIS CONDOMINIUM DOCK ON WINNECONNE LAKE. WHILE PASSING UNDER THE HWY 116 BRIDGE THE PONTOON COVERING CAUGHT FIRE FROM WELDING SPARKS PRODUCED BY WELDERS WORKING ON THE BRIDGE. AS THE BOAT-OWNER OPERATOR NEARED HIS DOCK, HE SMELLED SMOKE AND NOTICE THE COVERING WAS ON FIRE. OWNER-OPERATOR ATTEMPED TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE BUT WAS NOT SUCCESSFUL. TO GET AWAY FROM THE FIRE, THE OWNER-OPERATOR WENT TO FRONT OF PONTOON AS BOAT APPROACHED THE DOCK. THE BOAT STRUCK THE DOCK CAUSING THE BOAT OWNER-OPERATOR TO FALL OVERBOARD INTO THE WATER. HE WAS ASSISTED TO THE SHORE BY NEARBY FISHERMAN.
WINNECONNE                    