RedactedNarrative: On 6/16/17 at 11:12 am, sgt. sent me a text message telling me to call operator in reference to a vessel fire near ophelia (drum) inlet.  Later that day, at 3:47 pm, i called operator and he told me a quick summary of what had occurred.  I asked him if we could meet the following day in person to discuss the incident.  
  
  Upon walking in operator's residence, i observed that many of his belonging were in boxes around the apartment.  He reported that he was in the process of moving out of state.  I asked operator to tell me what had happened regarding his vessel.  Operator reported that on 6/15/17, he launched his vessel, which he described as a 35' fountain, from the oyster creek boating access area near davis, nc.  He pointed out to me on google maps where he launched from.  He reported he then rode his vessel around in the sound for a short period of time before driving it out to the ocean.  
  
  He reported he went through drum (ophelia) inlet and then went south.  He reported he eventually turned around and came back north towards the inlet.  He reported he was going approximately 70 or 80 miles per hour when the engine started acting funny and he noticed smoke coming from the starboard (right) side engine compartment.  He reported at this time he was approximately ½ or ¾ of mile from shore in the ocean.  He reported he was approximately four to six miles south of drum inlet.  He reported after seeing the smoke, he stopped his vessel and opened up the starboard side engine compartment door.  He reported he only saw smoke, no flames. 
  
  He reported after about a minute, the vessel's automatic fire extinguisher was activated.  He reported he also activated his handheld fire extinguisher in an effort to extinguish the smoke.  He reported that despite his efforts to extinguish the smoke, the smoke continued.  He reported he then jumped off of his vessel into the water.  He reported he was wearing an inflatable pfd and it inflated when he went in the water.  He reported he then swam to the core banks.  He told me, “it took a long time.”  He reported while he was in the water, he looked back and did not see his vessel anymore.  
  
  Operator reported by the time he made it to the core banks, it was almost dark.  Operator reported that he then walked across the banks and then swam and walked through the core sound back to the main land.  He reported he walked through marsh grass to get back to highway 70.  Operator reported that upon reaching highway 70, he walked north for about an hour until he arrived back at the access area where his vehicle was parked.  He reported he arrived back to his vehicle at about 3 or 4 am on 6/16/17. 
  
   Operator reported his cell phone did not get wet because he left it in his vehicle, along with his wallet.  I asked operator if he had washed his clothes since the incident.  He reported he had not.  I then asked to see the clothes he was wearing when the incident occurred.  He walked around his apartment for a couple of minutes looking for them and then reported to me that he must have washed them.  He reported he was wearing a khaki shorts and a t-shirt.  I asked operator where his pfd was. 
  
   He told me that he threw it away in the dumpster at his apartment complex.  Operator also reported that he was barefoot when the incident happened.  I found it unusual that he did not report his feet were cut up by oyster shells.  Operator was unable to tell me the registration numbers of his vessel.  
  
  Operator reported that his boat trailer was in swansboro in a fenced in storage area.  After leaving operator's residence, sgt. and i patrolled to swansboro and were able to locate a boat trailer that was registered to operator.  I later contacted operator's insurance company, progressive, and they were able to provide me with operator's boat numbers.  Operator was not charged with any violations.  Nothing further at this time.
  
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