At 10:00 I was notified via cell that there was a boat fire near S. Eden campground. I asked if it was life threatening and they told me that I needed to hurry, but the fire was out as far as they could tell.  They said  the passengers were shaken up over it and had smoke inhalation. I responded to find vessel UT3366SH just off shore south of S. Eden campground. There were the 2 passengers that I meet with, they said there was no one else onboard. I asked if the fire was out, they said yes as far as they knew. Coastguard Aux. arrived the same time I did. I looked in the cabin to see that the fire was out. Operator was having a hard time breathing due to the smoke inhalation. I asked if they needed medical and both stated that they were ok, but wanted oxygen for Operator, I advised medical and they told me ok call medical because Operator was vomiting, un oriented, and light headed. Medical arrived and took care of Operator.

I had Occupant on my vessel as coastguard towed in there vessel to the marina. 

I asked Occupant what happened he stated they cooked breakfast, started up the vessel and brought the vessel onto plane when smoke began to come out of the cabin. He told me that he thought the stove was off when they took off.  He stated that the stove has been on fire before but it has never been any problem before today. It is an electric and alcohol stove. He told me that Operator grabbed the fire extinguisher, then the cooler, then the milk and anything he could find, they got the fire out the best they could, Operator took the fire extinguisher inside the cabin and got the rest of the flames out.  They told me they were about 1/2 mile off shore when it started, got it out the best they could and made it to shore on the trolling motor.

I asked Occupant the value of his vessel, he told me he thought it was about $55,000 He told me that the interior was all brand new and he just put $30,000 into the interior. I took photo's of the damage which appears to be a total loss to the interior of the vessel, but the fire did not come out of the cabin.

subject stated "smoke started coming out of the bridge, black smoke just started poring out. We had one fire extinguisher on back, opened door wide enough to spray. We ran into the cabin and sprayed that fire extinguisher. It was the stove, I know it was the stove, I just doesn't know why but it had happened before just nothing like this. Not sure if it was turned on or not," but he said he thought it was off.

I spoke with Operator at the marina when he got there after being treated and against medical advice he denied any more medical care. He confirmed the story that they were about 1/2 mile out, and the rest of what I was told by Occupant.

In the photo's the red fire extinguisher they were lucky it worked, it was a 1984 the other was I believe in the late 1990's.

Garden City                   