On june 12, 2011 at approx. 16:00 hrs, a 1980 shamrock inboard engine fiberglass vessel with 7 persons on board was leaving lake ponchartrain and had just entered the debbie drive canal near carr dr in slidellla., when the vessel caught fire. All seven occupants abandoned the vessel and were able to swim to shore near debbie drive. One of the passengers had second degree burns to his back and feet, and was administered first aid by ems, but refused further medical treatment. All of the occupants of the vessel stated that there was an explosion before the vessel caught fire. The entire vessel was destroyed by the fire and ran aground and sank in shallow water. Operator stated that his vessel's fuel tanks were about 1/4 full and that the vessel had been running fine right before the incident. The explosion and fire appear to have been fuel related (gasoline inboard engine vessel.) And the fire appears to have started near the stern of the vessel where the fuel tanks were located. The operator of the vessel appears to have acted with due diligence in getting his passengers off of the burning vessel and alcohol does not appear to be a contributing factor in this incident.
SLIDELL                       