At approximately 1:30 am on 9-23-12, (Vessel #1) plugged in a ceramic heater in the rear of his boat. After turning on the heater, a breaker flipped off. He checked the breaker located underneath the steering column and it had not flipped. After turning off his heater, he then exited his boat and checked the breaker box on the dock. This breaker on the dock did flip. He reset the breaker. He returned to the inside of his boat and turned the heater back on with a low setting. The breaker never flipped again, and he went to bed no later than 2:10am with his back bedroom door closed.
At approximately 3:00am, he was awakened to the sound of his engine turning over. When he opened his door of the bedroom, he realized the front of the boat was engulfed and full of smoke. He exited the rear back door and yelled for help and called 911. 
A water hose and fire extinguisher were used to fight the blaze until it was too dangerous and out of control. 911 was notified at 3:07am and the LC Fire Department arrived at 3:15am. 

Vessel #1 burned until what was left sank to the bottom of the Marina. Vessel #2 was in the slip next to vessel #1 and was totally destroyed except for the steel hull. Vessel #3 was damaged due to heat from the flames.

LENOIR CITY                   