RedactedNarrative: On 06-25-2016 at approximately 11:40am, I responded to Ed Stone Park located at 2990 State Road 44 in Deland, Florida 32724 in reference to a vessel fire.
  
       Upon arrival I made contact with (Operator), who was standing by a black and red 2010 Bombardier Personal Water Craft (V1) which was strapped down on a trailer.  V1 appeared to have a large amount of damage all around the outside of the hull and several hatches were missing.  I also observed several cracks/breaks in the fiberglass body and a large amount of what appeared to be fire extinguisher dust all over the exterior and interior of V1.
  
       According to Operator1, he had just fueled V1 prior to arriving at Ed Stone Park to launch it on the river for the day.  Operator1 advised that when he arrived on scene, he backed the trailer into the water and began taking steps to launch V1.  Operator1 said that after unstrapping V1, he was sitting on the operator's seat and attempted to start the engine.  Operator1 stated that he pressed the ignition button and the engine began to turn over but V1 would not start.  Operator1 said that he gave it a few seconds and pressed the ignition button a second time in an attempt to get V1 started. 
  
       Operator1 advised that he heard a very loud noise and was violently launched approximately 15 feet into the air above V1.  According to Operator1, as he began to fall back down he landed on top of V1 and then bounced off and into the water at the boat ramp.  Operator1 advised that although he was startled, he did not receive any major injuries and was wearing his life jacket at the time of the incident.   Operator1 stated that after he was ejected from the operator's seat, V1 caught fire.  However, Operator1 said that several of his friends who were on scene immediately extinguished the flames with a fire extinguisher, preventing any fire damage to the vessel.
  
       At this time, Operator1 went over the damage to V1 with me.  I took several photographs (see attached) of V1 and all subsequent damages.  It appeared to have a large amount of damage all along the outside of the hull.  The top portion of V1 separated from the bottom of the hull and all of the hatches attached to the hull were missing or destroyed.  I also observed two large stress fractures to the fiberglass body on the port and starboard side of the stern.
  
       It was determined that after fueling, vapors began to build inside the interior of the closed/sealed hull.  Due to the fact that V1 did not have any venting features, the fuel vapors were able to build to dangerous levels.  When Operator1 pressed the ignition button on his second attempt to start V1, the fuel vapors ignited in the confined and sealed space inside the hull causing a large outward explosion.  This explosion was powerful enough to eject Operator1 from the operator's seat and blow all of the hatches off of the body of V1.  The explosion also caused the vessel to break apart or crack in several areas as the pressure rapidly escaped through the path of least resistance.
  
      Although V1 caught fire, I did not observe any fire related damages.  It was determined that no fire damages occurred to V1 due to the quick actions of Operator1 friends who extinguished the flames.  No injuries beyond first aid occurred as a result of this incident and the damages of V1 are estimated at $10,000.  No further action was taken at this time.