ON 3/7/09, ON LAKE NORMAN NEAR MARKER 12, owner WAS ATTEMPTING TO TAKE HIS PONTOON OUT FOR THE FIRST TIME THIS YEAR.  THE BOAT WAS TIED TO A FLOATING DOCK WHILE owner INSTALLED A NEW BATTERY.  AFTER CONNECTING THE BATTERY, owner STARTED TOWARD THE OPERATOR'S SEAT WHEN HE NOTICED FLAMES COMING FROM THE CONSOLE AREA.  owner ONLY HAD TIME TO GET OFF THE BOAT AND ATTEMPT TO PUT THE FIRE OUT FROM THE DOCK.  THE FIRE BURNED THE TIE DOWN ROPES AND ALLOWED THE PONTOON TO FLOAT INTO THE BACK OF A COVE.  FIRE EXTINGUISHERS WERE USED TO CONTROL THE FIRE ON THE DOCK AND ON THE TWO JET SKIS ON THE DOCK.  NO INJURIES WERE REPORTED AND NO CHARGES WERE FILED.
MOORESVILLE                   