RedactedNarrative: Details of the incident/investigation:
  On 7-6-19 at approximately 6:05 pm i, indiana conservation officer responded to a boat fire at white oaks campground on lake freeman.  When i arrived i observed that the boat was completely engulfed.  I took several pictures of the scene.  Monticello and delphi fire departments arrived and put the fire out.  I located the owner and passengers of the boat on shore.
  
  The owner told me that he had just started the boat and went to put it in reverse to back off the trailer when he heard a "loud pop".  He then saw fire near the engine area.  He said that a second later the back of the boat exploded sending pieces of the cowling everywhere.  He hurried to get his daughter and mother out of the boat.  His girlfriend pulled the truck and trailer out of the area.  He said after he found no one was injured he checked to see if anyone had called the fire department.  There were numerous bystanders in the area and someone had already called 911.  
  
  I asked operator1 how long he had owned the boat and he said about a month.  I asked him how many times he had operated it and if the boat had any problems on previous trips.  He said he had taken it out about six or seven times and had not had any issues with it.  I asked him if he had done any work on the boat and when the last time he had put gas in it.  He said that he had changed the fuel filter earlier in the week and had gassed the boat up about an hour earlier.   Mother interjected that it took 20 gallons to fill it up.   I asked him if he had smelled the odor of gas before he started the boat and he said no.  I asked him if he had any insurance on the boat and he said it was thru progressive.  I asked him to send me the policy and its information for the report.  Finally i asked him how much he had paid for the boat when he had purchased it.  He said he only paid $400.00 for it.  
  
  I took photos of the boat a blue 1993 starcraft eurostar with indiana registration.  I also took photos of the damage to the dock at white oak's campground.  After mel's towing service had removed the boat from the water i photographed the hin number of the boat.
  
   operator1 texted me about an hour later asking me to change the time of the incident because his insurance policy was not in effect.  I told him that was not possible.  Operator1 replied that he understood.  
  
  Based on my training and experience i believe that there was a buildup of gasoline vapors in the engine compartment.  These vapors ignited causing the explosion to occur and subsequent fire.  There was a type "b" fire extinguisher on board as well as proper personal flotation devices.  The fire extinguisher was not effective due to the extreme heat and amount of gas on board.  The boat is a total loss.