Operator STATED THAT HE HAD JUST PULLED ANCHOR AND WAS TRYING TO START THE ENGINE OF HIS 2002 LOWE PONTOON BOAT, WHEN THE ENGINE BACKFIRED AND CAUGHT FIRE.  THE FIRE QUICKLY SPREAD TO THE BOAT.  Five people JUMPED INTO THE WATER WILL THEIR P.F.D.'S AND SWAM TO OTHER BOATS IN THE AREA.  FOUR DRY CHEMICAL FIRE EXTINGUISHERS WERE USED BY THE OWNER AND OTHER BOATERS BUT THEY COULD NOT EXTINGUISH THE FIRE.  INDIANA CONSERVATION OFFICER, WHO WAS ON BOAT PATROL IN THE AREA, SAW THE FIRE AND WENT TO THE BURNING BOAT.  OFFICER USED THE FIRE EXTINGUISHER FROM HIS PATROL BOAT BUT WAS ALSO UNABLE TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE.  OFFICER AND TWO FIREMEN FROM THE JOHNSON TOWNSHIP VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT TOWED THE BURNING BOAT TO A NEARBY RAMP WHERE THE FIRE WAS EXTINGUISHED BY WATER FROM A FIRE TRUCK.  THE REMAINS OF THE BURNT BOAT WERE REMOVED FROM THE LAKE BY BARGER TOWING SERVICE, SCOTTSBURG, INDIANA.
Scottsburg                    