RedactedNarrative: SYNOPSIS
  I responded to and investigated a houseboat fire. There were no injuries, and the fire was contained to the kitchen area of the houseboat.
  
  INITIAL REPORT
  At approx. 1300 on Monday, 8/3/2020 on Lake Powell, I (Ranger 1) was in my office when I heard National Park Service (NPS) Dispatch put out a call regarding a houseboat fire in Hansen Creek Canyon. There were no injuries, and everyone was reported being off the boat. NPS Dispatch stated the reporting party (RP) said it was smoking but no active flames. The vessel was described as the houseboat "SHORE THING", 63 ft. long white with green stripes. I advised NPS Dispatch that I would be enroute shortly to the scene.
  
  INITIAL CONTACT
  I responded to Hansen Creek Canyon with my seasonal employee. As we approached the mouth of Hansen Creek Canyon, we were waved over by two males on a PWC who told us where the houseboat was. We entered the canyon, and a little ways down, observed a blue super Air Nautique boat that pointed out the cove the houseboat was in.
  
  As I approached the houseboat "SHORE THING" I didn't observe any active flames or smoke coming from the vessel. I asked a gentlemen on the back of the vessel if the boat was secure and if the batteries were off. He replied that the boat was secure, but didn't know if the batteries were on. He confirmed the fire was out and that there and that there were no active flames "SHORE THING" was beached and anchored in a cove. Shortly after I arrived NPS vessel 290 (fireboat), with NPS Rangers 2, 3, and 4 also arrived on scene. The location was approx. 1 mile up Hansen Creek Canyon on the port side.
  
  NARRATIVE
  I boarded the houseboat, and introduced myself to those on board. Ranger 3 also boarded and conducted an inspection of the houseboat to confirm the fire was contained/extinguished. Ranger 3 confirmed to me she didn't see any evidence of current fire activity. She also stated she used the Forward Looking Infrared (FLIR) and saw a hotspot of 124 degrees. Ranger 2 also stated in his report " I then walked into the cabin of the houseboat and noticed the party had completely removed all the siding around 2 refrigerators and removed the paneling to check for active flames".
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  Adults on board stated they had used 8-9 fire extinguishers, and that active flames approx. 5-6" high were visible behind the fridge and were "burning the wood". I observed numerous used fire extinguishers on the counter. They stated the propane for the two fridges weren't working, so they switched the propane tanks, the fridges started beeping indicating they weren't working. The system is set up to automatically connect to the propane when there is no power. Adults on board further stated the new propane tanks were full, and there was a tight seal. They started the generator and stated that the fridges then should have been off the propane. The 3 families were eating lunch in the houseboat and could start to smell smoke, and then observed smoke behind the left fridge. They switched everything off, including the batteries, but stated the fridges stayed on. Pitchers of water were also used by those onboard to put out the fire, and additional fire extinguishers were given to them from a neighboring houseboat.
  
  One witness and the RP, Passenger 1, stated in her witness statement "fridges were not working, we switched to propane tanks, the fridges should have worked. They were saying no LP so we switched to generator, but fridges didn't switch over to generator power. Then Passenger 2 started smelling fire burning. We shut off the generator and kids say smoke was coming out of the cupboards avoe the left fridge. Passenger 3 and Passenger 2 started pulling things out of the cupbaord. Sprayed fire extinguishers into the flame, tore cupboards and ceiling panel down, pulled fridge out as much as possible. Put all porpane tanks and 5 gallon gas cans on shore. Me and Passenger 4 (my son) drove the ski boat to the channel to call 911. They gave us to Glen Canyon Rescue. We drove the ski boat back to the houseboat and waited for fire rescue".
  
  Another witness, identified as Passenger 2 stated "At approx. 12 pm I (Passenger 2) began to smell smoke and I assumed "something is burning" smell. However, from 10-15 mns we still couldn't see anything. Then, above the fridge, we could smoke billowing out, and quickly started to break down walls, lights, panels, so we could get to the source. As soon as we broke through the walls we immediately saw 6-8 inch flames, and began to fire extinguish the flames. It took approx. 30-45 mns. to completely get the flames/embers out.
  
  SHORE THING was not underway at the time the fire occurred (no operator), it was beached and anchored. The damage observed included significant damage to the siding and the ceiling paneling in the kitchen area (directly above both fridges). The paneling was removed by individuals on board, so they could further assess/access where the fire was coming from. Burned wood was also visible above the fridges and also on the side paneling as well. The origin of the fire was behind/above the fridges. The coils on the back of the left fridge were also charred.
  
  CONCLUSION
  Based on my investigation, interviews with individuals onboard, witness statements and pictures - the cause of the vessel fire was likely electrical. There were issues with the fridges being switched from propane to generator power, and that was a possible factor in this incident. There was a delay in submitting this report, due to a delay in receiving insurance info for the report. Attached to this report are the pictures of the damage to "SHORE THING", registration and insurance information, witness statements, NPS CAD log, and the NPS General and Fire Reports as well. Report is complete.
  
  End of Report