RedactedNarrative: I was advised by the operator of the vessel, that no one was injured. Operator, stated "that they were towing his father-in-law in to the landing due to motor trouble. After getting his father-in-laws boat loaded, everyone got off of his boat at the landing, Operator started to crank the boat and back up, when the motor back fired and caught on fire. He stated that he tried to put it out with a fire extinguisher, but it would not go out.  He stated that he was the only one on the boat when it happened.
  Witnesses advised they heard it backfire and saw Operator trying to put the fire out. They advised, when he saw he could not put it out, he put on a PFD and jumped off the vessel. The vessel is a silver and white 21 foot Sun Tracker Pontoon boat, with a 90 horse power Mercury outboard motor. The registration numbers displayed on the vessel is GA6077UG, with a valid GA 2017 registration sticker. The H.I.N. of the vessel is BUJ48291L293. 
  
  In summary, the incident occurred  due to fuel catching on fire after the motor backfired when  Operator, started the motor to back out from the landing. The fire started inside the motor under the cover of the motor.  Operator could not put the fire out with the fire extinguisher. He grabbed a PFD and put it on and jump out of the vessel to get to the land. The vessel was docked next to the landing where the fire was put out by Decatur County Fire.