RedactedNarrative: On April 19th, 2016 at approximately 1940 hours I was contacted by GSP Newnan Dispatch about a boating incident at Bulldog Bait and Tackle Boat Ramp at 1300 Victory Drive in Columbus, GA. I was given the phone number of Columbus Fire Dept. personnel that were on scene. Upon contacting the Fire Dept, I was advised that a vessel had exploded and one subject was injured, Injured1. I notified my supervisor, Officer1, and proceeded to the scene. I spoke with the Fire Dept several times while I was enroute to the scene and was advised that Injured1 had been ejected from the vessel and sustained compound fractures to the inside of both of his legs near his ankle. Injured1 was stabilized and transported to Columbus Medical Center. 
  I arrived on the scene at approximately 2124 hours and the scene was clear, no one was there. I was able to photograph the vessel, a 1984 Galaxy stern drive with a fiberglass hull and a registration number of GAxxxxxx. The vessel was located on the left hand side of the boat ramp and was secured to the bank. The vessel was badly burned. I was unable to remove the vessel from the area due to the extensive damage to the vessel; the motor had burned through the hull anchoring it in place. 
  I then went to the Columbus Fire Station to request a copy of their reports, which are attached. I also contacted Columbus PD but they did complete any reports on the incident. 
  I then proceeded to Columbus Medical Center where I was able to speak with Injured1 about the incident. Injured1 stated that he had launched the boat from Bulldog Boat Ramp with his son and nephew. Injured1 informed me that he had started the motor in the parking lot while the boat was on the trailer prior to backing the vessel into the water. He then backed then backed the vessel into the water and his son, Witness1, pulled the boat over to the dock with the bow rope. His nephew, Witness2, was standing on the dock next to the boat. The motor had been cutoff for a few minutes at this point when Injured1 attempted to restart the motor. Upon Injured1 attempting to restart the vessel an explosion occurred that originated from the engine compartment. Injured1 was ejected from the vessel landing in the water. His son, Witness1, let go of the rope and the boat began floating down river.  His nephew Witness2 pulled Injured1 from the water onto the boat ramp where he was treated by the Columbus Fire Department Paramedics for compound fractures to inside of both of his lower legs. No one else sustained any injuries. Columbus Fire Department was able to pull the boat back to the ramp and put the fire out. The vessel sustained massive damage from the fire. 
  I asked Injured1 if he had turned on the blower motor to vent the engine compartment prior to attempting to start the motor. Injured1 was unaware of the blowers. I also asked Injured1 if there was a flame arrestor installed on the engine. Injured1 stated there was one installed.
  Due to the massive damage that the vessel sustained, I am unable to determine if a flame arrestor was installed on the motor or if there was a fuel leak prior to the explosion. I can say that failure to vent the engine compartment prior to starting the vessel could have played a significant role in the cause of the fire. I however am unable to determine the exact cause of the fire.