RedactedNarrative: On 07/01/18 at 2206 hours, I, Sgt. of the Maryland Natural Resources Police (NRP), was notified by Montgomery County Police (MCP) of a vessel fire in the Potomac River near Sycamore Landing. I responded to the Edwards Ferry boat ramp where we were advised Montgomery County Fire Rescue (MCFR) was launching. Initial reports were that the vessel was fully engulfed and that there were an unknown number of persons in the water. Other responding agencies were Loudoun County Fire and Rescue and US Park Police Aviation.
  Prior to arrival at Edwards Ferry, I was informed that the vessel was fully engulfed but that all occupants were safely on the Virginia shoreline without injury.
  Upon arrival, Ofcs and I launched our patrol vessel downstream from Edwards Ferry and met with MCFR. We were advised that the vessel had burned to the water and sunk several minutes prior to our arrival. MCFR reported that our current location (N 39.0655 W -77.3988) was the approximate area the vessel had sunk. We were also advised that the three vessel occupants lived nearby on the Virginia side of the river and had already left the scene to return to their residences.
  MCFR confirmed that there were no injuries and that all occupants were accounted for. 
  I made phone contact with both adult occupants. Both advised they had launched the vessel from a community boat ramp at Broad Run, a Potomac River tributary on the Virginia side. Operator reported he traveled east down the Potomac River to watch a fireworks show. While returning to Broad Run after the show, Operator was operating the vessel on plane and traveling westbound on the river. He heard a loud pop sound and cut the throttle and turned off the engine. Operator advised he opened the engine cover and saw smoke and flames. Subject1 moved himself and his son to the front of the vessel and Operator attempted to use a fire extinguisher to put out the fire but it did not operate. When the fire started to grow larger, Subject1 jumped off the vessel with Subject2 and swam to shore, followed soon after by Operator. Subject2 was wearing a PFD prior to the fire. Operator reported that there were numerous PFDs on board but that neither he nor Subject1 were wearing one at the time of the fire and neither put one on when the fire started. Once on shore, the occupants met with Loudoun County Fire and Rescue and gave them their contact information.
  I gave Operator the GPS coordinates of the sunken vessel and advised him he was responsible for salvage. All events occurred in Montgomery County, Maryland.
  