RedactedNarrative: On july 26, 2020 at approximately 1430 hours, i was notified that a vessel was on fire near the i-65 bridge on the ohio river. Indiana conservation officer and myself responded to the incident from charlestown boat ramp. We arrived on scene at approximately 1441 hours. 
  
  	once we arrived on scene, jeffersonville fire department and louisville fire rescue boats were both on scene extinguishing the flames. The boat had black and white rolling smoke emerging from the vessel with small noticeable flames coming from the bow and stern of the vessel. I was notified that all 5 occupants of the watercraft were safe and on another watercraft. I was advised there were no injuries.
   
  	i made contact with the vessel, indiana watercraft registration number, and the owner/operator. This vessel had rescued the 5 individuals out of the water that were on the watercraft that got engulfed in flames. I asked owner if he could transport the individuals to duffy's landing docks that were just upriver from the incident. Owner agreed to transport. 
  
  	i spoke with the driver/owner of the boat that was engulfed in flames. I asked owner to walk me through what happened. He said his boat, was a 2001 crownline 23' in-board/out-board motor. He bought the boat in june of this year. He stated he had taken the boat out roughly 10 times, with this being the tenth time. He said he has never had any problems with it prior to today. Owner said he purchased the boat. He stated that he did not know when the last service was done on the boat, however he believes the previous owner did change the oil prior to him purchasing it. 
  
  Owner stated that he was aware of what the blower was, and he stated he had it on that day. He said he turned the blower off roughly one minute prior seeing the smoke emerge from the vessel. He stated he then turned the blower back on after seeing the smoke. Owner was not familiar with what the backfire flame arrestor is, and therefore wasn't aware if it was properly functioning. I asked him to describe what he seen and smelt just prior to the boat catching on fire. He stated he smelt burnt plastic and noticed white smoke coming from under the driver's seat. He said they had just put on the river at duffy's landing and started driving downriver. They were only out for roughly 20 minutes. He stated they had just refilled the gas today and had roughly three-quarter tank. He stated there was also smoke coming the engine compartment. At this time, all five subjects threw lifejackets into the water and jumped in away from the boat. He stated another boat drove up and picked them up.
  
  	 
  	i asked the driver if they had consumed any alcohol today and he stated he had one beer. He said there was a whole pack in the cooler that was on the boat. 
  	photos were taken of the boat and the hull identification number. Louisville fire rescue and jeffersonville fire transported the boat to the closest dock on the kentucky side. They tied to boat to the dock and beached it in the shallow waters near the dock.