On Saturday, July 31, 2010, I received a call from Decatur 911 in reference to a boat being on fire in front of the Boat Basin.  When I responded to the call, I talked with the boat owner.  Owner stated after he idled out of the boat basin he gave the boat some gas, heard a loud click, and the vessel exploded.  He stated he just purchased the vessel, and this was the first time he has taken it out.  He stated that his wife and their two children were in the vessel when it exploded and burned.  When I arrived, Owner's vessel had already sunk and only the bow of the boat was above water burning.  Owner and his wife both gave written statements of the incident.  While talking with Owner, I realized that I had received a page from the office in referenced to a HIN inspection on his vessel.  I asked Owner if the boat was registered and if he had a registration number.  He stated he called the registration department and was in the process of registering the vessel.  I completed the boating incident report with the information Owner provided during the time of the interview.  I also received pictures from a witness that observed the vessel burning.  The vessel is submerged at this time and no other information on it can be obtained.
Bainbridge                    