BOAT WAS IN SLIP AT POINT MARINA IN WHORTONSVILLE NC.  OPERATOR HAD HOUSEHOLD SPACE HEATER ON IN BOAT.  OPERATOR NOTICED SMOKE AND THEN FLAMES BEHIND ELECTRICAL PANEL ON THE AC SIDE.  SMOKE FORCED OWNER OFF OF THE VESSEL.  A BYSTANDER BROUGHT A FIRE EXTINGUISHER BUT OWNER DID NOT USE AT THE TIME DUE TO THE AMOUNT OF SMOKE.  OWNER CALLED 911 AND ONCE FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED THEY PUT THE FIRE OUT WITH A FIRE EXTINGUISHER.  FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED VERY QUICKLY DUE TO THE FACT THEY WERE AT THE STATION WHEN THE CALL CAME IN.  THE USCG ALSO RESPONDED TO THE CALL.  MYSELF AND OFFICER ARRIVED AT THE MARINA TO INVESTIGATE THE FOLLOWING MORNING.  THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE WAS THE SPACE HEATER BEING USED ONBOARD THE VESSEL.  THE POWER DRAW OF THE HEATER WAS MORE THAN THE WIRES WERE ABLE TO WITHSTAND.  THE WIRING OF THE VESSEL WAS TOO SMALL FOR THE HEATER WHICH CAUSED THE WIRES TO HEAT TO THE POINT OF MELTING AND INEVITABLY CAUSING THE FIRE.  THE FIRE DID NOT TOTAL THE VESSEL.  MOST OF THE DAMAGE WAS DONE TO THE WIRING AND ELECTRICAL PANELS WHICH WERE TOTALED.  THERE WAS ALSO A SMALL AMOUNT OF SMOKE DAMAGE.
WHORTONSVILLE