RedactedNarrative: On Wednesday, February 08, 2017 at approximately 1530 hours, I, Ofc. responded to a reported boat fire at a dock on the Severn River in the area of Sullivan Cove. We responded by patrol boat from Sandy Point State Park and we were able to see a smoke column from the Chesapeake Bay as we passed under the Bay Bridge.  Anne Arundel Fire Boat 19 responded right behind us. The air temperature was about 60 degrees with light winds from the west and mostly sunny. The water temperature was about 35 degrees, with a little chop. 
  
  As we arrived on location we observed a sail boat that was on fire and had already burnt almost to the waterline. The Annapolis City Fire Department boat was in the process of extinguishing the fire.  The sailboat later identified as a 1976 28 foot Pearson, with Maryland Registration 7079 Z, was tied to a pier. As we maneuvered our patrol boat around to tie up to the pier, we saw the sailboat sink below the surface of the water. 
  
  After docking the patrol boat, Ofc. and I identified the owners of the sailboat and a witness. One of the firefighters advised us that one of the owners had told him that the boat had a 50 gallon fuel tank and may have had 20 gallons of gasoline on board. The firefighter asked if he should contact Maryland Department of Environment (MDE), and I told him given the amount of fuel MDE should be contacted. 
  
  I started interviewing Subject1 while Ofc. took the names and contact information for the other owners. Subject1 told me that he and two friends, bought the boat in the spring of 2016. Subject1 also told me that the motor was not operational and the battery terminals had melted in May or June of 2016, so they sailed the boat during the summer without use of the motor or electrical system. I asked Subject1 how much fuel was on board. Subject1 told me there were only a couple gallons of gasoline in a 5 gallon portable container located in the boat's head.  I asked him why he had told the firefighters that there was about 20 gallons of gasoline in the boat's tank. Subject1 told me he was mistaken and one of the other owners corrected him when he arrived.
  
  I advised Ofc. that there was only a couple of gallons of gasoline on the boat and he could advise MDE that they did not need to respond to the scene.
  
  Subject1 told me his friend decided to try to get the electrical system working and were testing they system when they observed smoke coming from the area around the battery switch in the cabin. Subject1 told me that he was in the cabin near the battery switch and Friend1 was in the cockpit. Subject1 stated that when he saw the smoke, he yelled to Friend1 and Friend1 gave Subject1 the fire extinguisher. Subject1 said he tried to discharge the fire extinguisher into the electrical panel behind the battery switch.  Subject1 said he got out of the cabin as it was filling with smoke. Subject1 said he and Friend1 got off the boat and he looked back and saw fire in the cabin. Subject1 said he then called 911. I asked Subject1 if he knew what type of fire extinguisher it was, he told me it was older and described with his hands the size.  Indicating it was small. I asked Subject1 if the fire extinguisher went down with the boat, he said it did.
  
  I asked Subject1 who else was on the boat or on the dock when the boat caught fire, he told me only he and Friend1 were there, the other owners and onlookers arrived after they called 911.
  As I was interviewing Subject1, Ofc. had Friend1 complete a witness statement. After I interviewed Subject1, I asked him to complete a witness statement while I interviewed Friend1. Both witness statements are attached to this report.
  
  Friend1 told me that he was in the cockpit while Subject1 was working on the electrical system. Friend1 told me that Subject1 had just finished fixing the wiring and was testing it when the panel started smoking. Friend1 told me that he gave the fire extinguisher to Subject1 to put the fire out. I asked Friend1 where he got the fire extinguisher from. Friend1 told me that he was already holding it in case there was a problem. I asked Friend1 if he knew what type of fire extinguisher it was, and he didn't know. 
  
   I advised Subject1 and the other owners of the boat that they were responsible for removing the boat from the water.  I asked Subject1 if the boat was insured and he told me it was not. Subject1 asked if they could pull the boat ashore and dispose of it themselves. I advised him that they could, but they were responsible to make sure it was disposed of legally. The owners told me they would contact a salvage company.  
  
  All events occurred in Anne Arundel County
  