On June 23, 2010 at approximately 1805 hours deputies were dispatched to the Hayden Lake Marina on Hayden Lake regarding a boat fire.  Upon arrival I met with the boat owner/operator who told me he'd driven his 23' Regal to the fuel dock at the marine and put in 30 gallons of gasoline.  Once completed, the operator pushed away from the dock and was drifting in the marina and attempting to start his boat.  The operator said the boat was hard starting and acted like the engine was flooded with fuel.  the operator said he pumped the throttle a couple times and put it all the way forward (full throttle) and started the boat.  The boat backfired and the operator said the engine compartment exploded, blowing off the engine cover.  The operator said his son was laying on the Port side bench seat.  His head was towards the bow but he was facing in and towards the engine compartment.  When the explosion occurred, the son sustained minor burns to his face and singed his hair.  
The operator stated that he and his son jumped overboard and swam to the dock.  However, the operator re-entered the water and grabbed the bow eye of the boat and attempted to pull it (by swimming) out of the marina and away from the other boats.  He made it a short distance and another boat came to his rescue and helped pull the boat out of the marina and the operator out of the water.  The Northern Lakes Fire Department arrived on scene to put out the fire, which they did.  The boat subsequently sank due to hull damage and being filled with water from the fire department.  Recovery efforts are pending.
The deputy asked the operator if he or his son were wearing PFD's.  He told me they had PFD's on the boat but were not wearing them.  He added that his mechanical blower did function properly although he didn't use it.  Furthermore, the operator told me he completed maintenance on the backfire flame arrestor last fall and that he cleaned it with gasoline or carburetor cleaner.  I informed him that he shouldn't use flammable solvents or products to clean the BFA and he should always ventilate the engine compartment prior to starting up.

Hayden                        