RedactedNarrative: On May 25, 2019 at approximately 15:20 hours, Corporal and I (Game Warden) arrived on scene of a boating incident.  The incident took place at Harbor Light Marina’s Boat Ramp on Lake Hartwell.  The incident had taken place at 15:05 hours when Operator was attempting to trailer his Chaparral 222 Vessel and the vessel erupted into flames.  The fire happened in an instant and went out on its own.  Operator then jumped off the vessel and made it to shore.  911 was called at 15:09 hours and Operator was flown to Augusta Burn Center. Operator received 2nd degree burns to 25 percent of his body.
  	I spoke to Operator, he said they had fueled the boat up and put the vessel in the water.  He said that he had run the blowers to remove the fumes. Then when trying to trailer, the boat it “blasted off.”  Operator said he does not know what happened to cause the fire. 
  	a witness to the incident had been assisting Operator with getting his boat in the water.  He said that they filled the boat with fuel at Dad’s Service Station then went to the marina to put the boat in the water.  Operator said he smelled fuel and believes he may have put fuel in the wrong tank.  Witness told him to put the vessel back on the trailer and they would check it out.  While trying to load the vessel, it then caught fire. 
  	Corporal and I were able to see the incident take place through security cameras at Harbor Light Marina.  However, it is unclear if fuel was put in the wrong tank. Although, fuel or fuel vapor is believed to have caused the explosion.  The odor of fuel still was strong on the vessel 45 minutes after the fire.  There was a fuel sheen on top of the water around the incident scene.  Fuel was also present in the floor of the toilet compartment of the vessel.
  