On July 18th, 2010, at approximately 10:00 a.m., I, CPO, arrived at Lake Gillespie after receiving a report of a possible boat accident.  When I arrived, the Gillespie fire department was on scene as well as Lt. from the Gillespie Police Department.  Lt stated that the 20' Ebbtide boat had caught fire resulting in an injury of an occupant.  occupant was transported to St. Francis hospital in Lithchfield for burns he had sustained from the boat catching fire.  At approximately, 12:45 p.m., I spoke with the operator of the boat as well as the owner.  operator stated that he and occupant were attempting to start the boat with it still on the boat trailer at Lake Gillespie boat ramp.  operator had removed the spark arrestor in an attempt to start the motor.  The boat began to take on water but the bilge pump was not working.  occupant wired the bilge pump directly to an uncovered battery when a spark was created as operator was simaltaneously attempting to start the motor.  Fire was emitted from the carburator and the engine compartment caught fire.  operator exited the boat off of the bow without sustaining injury.  occupant exited the boat off of the stern into the water after sustaining burns to his left forearm, right shoulder and hand as well as his right knee and left and right ankle.  operator attempted to extinguish the fire but was not successful.  The boat became fully engulfed by fire and operator pushed the boat off of the trailer into the lake.
  At approximately, 1:53 p.m.,  occupant stated that that he sustained first and second degree burns over ten percent of his body and was treated and released from St. Francis hospital in Lithchfield, Illinois.  occupant stated that he was working on the bilge pump when the motor backfired resulting in his injuries and subsequently destroying the 1986 Ebbtide fiberglass boat.
Gillespie                     