VESSEL 1 STALLED OUT NEAR THE MOUTH OF MILLS CREEK AS HE WAS TOWING HIS CHILDREN ON A KNEE BOARD.  OPERATOR TRIED TO RESTART THE VESSEL AND WAS UNABLE TO GET IT STARTED.  OPERATOR ANCHORED HIS VESSEL NEAR THE SHORE, OPENED THE ENGINE COVER, AND NOTICED A STRONG ODOR OF GAS.  HE LEFT THE COVER OPEN TO AIR OUT AND WENT IN THE WATER TO SWIM WITH THE CHILDREN.  OPERATOR REBOARDED HIS VESSEL AND ATTEMPTED TO START IT AGAIN.  HE HEARD A NOISE IN THE STERN AREA OF HIS VESSEL AND TURNED TO SEE FLAMES.  OPERATOR GRABBED A TYPE IV PFD AND JUMPED IN THE WATER WHERE HIS CHILDREN WERE SWIMMING.  OPERATOR GATHERED THE CHILDREN AND SWAM TO SHORE.  THE CHILDREN WERE ALL WEARING TYPE III PFDS AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT, AND OPERATOR USED THE TYPE IV PFD TO SWIM TO SHORE.
MORGANTON