Around 10:30am on wednesday 7/24/2013, i received a call reporting a boat fire on the shoreline.  I arrived on scene at approximately 11:00am.  On scene were duck fire department, dock police department, beach rescue, and colington rescue.  Vessel 1 was already burned to the waterline when i arrived on scene.  After speaking with personnel on scene, i went to speak with the owner and operator of vessel 1.  After speaking with him, i learned that the vessel was put over at nor banks sailing and watersports in duck.  Operator traveled north from nor banks.  Once in deeper water, operator and his passenger dropped anchor to test the water's depth.  After sitting at anchor, operator tried to restart the vessel.  But it never turned over after several failed attempts.  The odor of fuel was present.  Operator turned on the blowers and lifted the cover on the inboard-outboard motor.  After waiting approximately 15 minutes, operator tried to start the motor again.  After this unsuccessful attempt, operator called his boat mechanic  after speaking with the mechanic, operator tried to start the motor once again.  After his attempt, grey and black smoke started coming out of the engine compartment.  Flames started, operator grabbed his fire extinguisher.  Operator and his passenger jumped overboard because he was unable to use his fire extinguisher due to the size of the flames.  The vessel continued to burn as it drifted north.  The vessel struck a shoal and continued to burn.  Vessel 1 was a total loss, burned to the waterline.  Owner, operator had the vessel removed from the water.
DUCK