THE OPERATOR, WHICH WAS THE ONLY ONE IN THE VESsEL, SAID THAT HE WAS BACKING OUT OF ATHENS Y CAMP DOCK WITH HIS ENGINE BLOWER ON AND THE BOAT JUST QUIT RUNNING. HE SAID HE TRIED TO START IT BACK UP WHEN IT EXPLODED AND THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT CAUGHT ON FIRE. HE GOT OUT OF THE BOAT AND HE AND OTHER CAMP PERSONS TRIED TO PUT THE FIRE OUT WITH 2 SEPERATE FIRE EXTINGUISHERS BUT IT KEPT ON BURNING. THEY GOT THE BOAT AWAY FROM THE DOCKS AND IT BURNED AND SANK JUST IN FRONT OF AND ABOUT 50 FEET AWAY FROM THE KENNEDY'S DOCK.
LAKEMONT                      