RedactedNarrative: On 07/10/2017 at approximately 2300 hours I received a call from Region IV Dispatch of a boat fire on Norris Lake.  The boat was reported to be in the portion of Norris Lake near Brogan''s Free Launch on Highway 33 in Claiborne County.  At the time of the call it was unknown if there was anyone on board or if any injuries had occurred. 
  
  I arrived on scene at approximately 23:58 hours.  Upon arrival I contacted the operator.  Operator1 stated that he had left the ramp around 1630 hours and traveled to a friend''s houseboat where he had stayed for several hours. Operator1 stated the boat had run normally during this time.  At approximately 2245 hours Operator1 left the houseboat travelling back to the boat ramp at Brogan''s Free Launch on Highway 33.  Operator1 stated that as he approached the area near the ramp that the boat engine began to sputter and run poorly.  He stopped and went to check the engine.  Upon opening the engine compartment he saw flames.  Operator1 stated there was an inflated tube on the boat and that he put on a PFD and got on the tube to escape the boat.  Operator1 was picked up by another vessel and brought to shore.  Operator1 did not receive any injuries during the incident.  A short time later the boat was towed to shore by a third party vessel and the remaining fire was extinguished by local fire crews which had responded to Brogan''s Free Launch.  The vessel had burned to the water surface and appeared to be a total loss.  The operator had borrowed the vessel from his brother.
  