RedactedNarrative: On 07/15/2016 at approximately 18:01 Dispatchers at the Columbia KSP Post (Post 15), received an incoming call that a boat was on fire in White Oak Creek area of Green River Lake.  I, (Conservation Officer) received a call from Post 15 while off duty at approximately 18:04 to respond.  I arrived on scene, at the end of Texas Eastern Road in Adair County at 19:46.  By the time I arrived all parties in Vessel 1 and the responding agencies had left the scene, but Vessel 1 was still sitting on the lake bank. 
  
  At that time, I observed that all registration numbers and Hull Identification Numbers had been burnt off of Vessel 1, as a result of the fire. While at the scene I contacted the Adair County Fire and Rescue teams that responded earlier to gain additional information. At that time the responders were able to advise me that no one was injured in the accident and advised that the owner of the Vessel could not provide any other information.
  
  Owner's neighbor stated that Owner had been working on his boat for several weeks and noticed that he was pulling an empty trailer earlier on that same date.  
  
       After several attempts to contact Owner, Conservation Officer and I, were finally able to interview Owner on 07/26/2016, at approximately 17:01.  We met Owner at his residence. 
  
  In the interview Owner stated the accident occurred when he was operating Vessel 1 (KY-0225-VT)(1997 Marand,MX-3), heading northwest from the Knifley road bridge towards Holmes Bend. Owner stated he had been operating the boat for approximately 20 minutes when he heard a very loud noise. At first he thought they had hit a tree under the water. Owner then stated about 10 seconds after he heard the loud noise, he observed black smoke and flames coming from the engine compartment.
  
   Owner also stated that the fire extinguisher that he had onboard the vessel were in the engine compartment and he could not access it due to the fire.  Therefore, Owner and all the passengers entered the water and swam to shore.  
  
       When I asked Owner what he thought may have caused the fire, he stated that he had put a new hydraulic pump that used regular motor oil on the boat about two weeks prior. This was Owner's only explanation and could explain the black smoke coming from the engine compartment.  He also stated that it appeared that something was feeding the fire, and that after about 20 minutes the boat was unrecognizable.   
  
       Emergency services were contacted by a nearby fishermen at 17:47. Adair County Fire Department arrived on scene at 18:07. According to Adair County CAD Incident Detail Number 201624006. Emergency personnel noted that the boat had a hole that contained fuel and that it was still burning at 18:35.  At approximately 18:40 Emergency personnel noted that they did not have enough extinguishers to put out the gas and oil fire. At this point the vessel was towed to the bank near the end of Texas Eastern Road where the fire was sprayed with foam. Adair County Fire departed the scene at 19:42.  Vessel 1 was left at scene until it was picked up by the Owner on 07/16/2016.
  
       Due to the severity of the damage it is unknown what specifically caused the fire, but based on the witness statements and physical evidence I believe it is reasonable to believe that the new hydraulic pump was a contributing factor.  
  
  ** There were beer cans in the boat, however it is unknown if alcohol was a contributing factor.
  
  **All times are Central Standard Time.