According to the operator, he was traveling west down the icw canal.  He advised that his wife smelled fuel and then smoke.  Operator stopped his vessel and observed smoke pouring out of the engine room vents.  He then made contact with the uscg and 911 communications.  The auto fire suppression system went off and put out the engine room fire.  Operator used one b1 fire extinguisher on the fire as well.  Both occupants put on type 1 pfds while waiting for pickup.  Uscg then arrived on scene with their helicopter and lowered a rescue swimmer to the vessel.  At this time, myself and sgt arrived on scene carrying the ponzer fire department, and hyde county ems in our patrol boat.  A small boat crew from the uscg arrived as well.  They discharged one b1 fire extinguisher on the fire.l  ponzer fire department entered the engine room and observed large quantities of diesel fuel standing on the floor.  The fire department shut off all the fuel lines and ventilated the engine room.  Tow boat us was contacted by the owner to bring the vessel to river forest manner in belhaven.  On 9/7/11 i went to river forest marina and examined the engine room of the vessel with one of their employees.  The fire which started from an undetermined source could have been caused by an electrical problem which in turn caused the glass tube used to view the fuel level in the vessel to burst.  This in turn caused approximately 550 gallons of diesel fuel to fill the engine room.  The fire was contained to the engine room causing extensive damage to this room, both engines, and the vessel's wiring harness.  The interior of the vessel suffered smoke damage as well.  During this incident no fuel, or pollutants entered the water.  The use of alcohol and drugs did not contribute to this accident, and no charges were filed.
FAIRFIELD                     