RedactedNarrative: Unit #1 operator said he bought Unit #1 about a month ago and took it to a mechanic to have the engine worked on. He said while he was operating Unit #1 on the Kankakee River today on 08/16/20, around 2:17 P.M., the engine began sputtering. 
  
  He said around the east side of the first island west of the Des Plaines State Fish and Wildlife Area boat launch, he looked back and noticed smoke rolling out of the engine compartment of Unit #1. He said he opened the lid to the engine compartment and a fire flashed from inside. 
  
  He said he grabbed his fire extinguisher and attempted to put out the flames and was unsuccessful in doing so. He said two people on jet skis came over and gave him their fire extinguishers. He said upon using the third fire extinguisher, the fire was still not put out so the people on jet skis sprayed the engine compartment of Unit #1 and put the fire out.
  
  Unit #1 operator said in the meantime, the two other occupants of Unit #1 were able to get onto another boat. He said Unit #1 was towed back to the boat ramp by another boat. Once it arrived at the boat ramp, it was still floating. While it sat along the shore, it slowly took on water and sunk with the top of the starboard quarter below the water line.
  
  The engine compartment of Unit #1 had remnants of a fire in it and two battery covers were located in the water nearby. There was, however, no melted plastic around the batteries as if they were secured in a plastic box. There were also used fire extinguishers inside Unit #1. 
  
  The tow truck operator who removed the boat from the water said the owner of Unit #1 told him he just had the fuel lines and batteries replaced. 
  
  END OF REPORT
  