RedactedNarrative: At approximately 1700 hours on 09/03/2020 the Maryland Natural Resources police received a call from Natural Resources Police Communications Center in regards to a vessel fire in the Chesapeake Bay in close proximity of the Matapeake fishing pier. As information came in from NRP Communications I was advised that there were three subjects in the water and one was struggling to swim to the jetty about 40ft from the vessel. At approximately 1705 hours the Maryland Natural Resources Police advised that the vessel was fully engulfed and three subjects were in the water. At approximately 1712 hours Maryland Natural Resources Police advised that all subjects were accounted for, two subjects were on the rock jetty walking towards Matapeake beach and the third was on board the police vessel. At approximately 1718 hours I arrived on scene and met with the two individuals walking down the rock jetty. The vessel owner and operator, OPERATOR 1, advised they were leaving the Matapeake harbor when he and his two passengers heard a loud "pop" coming from the engine compartment, almost immediately they saw flames emerging from the compartment at the rear of the vessel. After observing the fire one of the passengers grabbed the fire extinguisher that was onboard and attempted to put out the fire. After failing to extinguish the fire all three occupants entered the water with their life jackets on. The vessel operator and one passenger made it to the rock jetty approximately 40 feet away from the stern of the vessel while the third subject was picked up by the Corporal. After arriving on scene and gathering a brief summary from the occupants I boarded NRP vessel 150 and attempted to tow the now smoldering vessel back into harbor because it was a hazard to navigation (see attached photographs). While the vessel was in tow it reignited and on scene fire personnel attempted to extinguish the vessel before it sank. At approximately 1748 hours the vessel had sunk and its stern rested on the bottom in approximately five feet of water. The vessel was marked with an orange float and GPS coordinates were relayed to NRP Communications.
      Upon arriving back at shore I interviewed the vessel owner along with the two other occupants and advised them of the vessels status in the water. The operator was supplied phone numbers for Boat U.S. and SeaTow to have the vessel removed from the water. During interviews I determined the vessel to be a white 207 Sunbird built in 1993 with approximate value of 3600 dollars. After the interviews it was determined that the occupants of the vessel had just filled the vessel with fuel (gas) and did not vent or air out the engine compartment. It is believed that not venting the compartment caused a spark or some other ignition device to ignite the fuel vapors in the compartment causing the fire.
      All events Occurred in Queen Anne’s County Maryland.
      This case is closed and no further police action to be taken.
  