RedactedNarrative: Vessel 1 was drifting approximately 50-100 feet from the Indian Pass Ramp. It was facing north when the operator attempted to restart the engine with the blower on. An explosion occurred aboard the vessel. The operator jumped off the vessel and swam ashore uninjured. 
  
  Officer with the FWC, responded to signal 4 boating accident in Gulf County on 6-22-15. The reported location was Indian Pass. It was a single vessel accident with no injuries that involved a vessel fire. 
  
  I made contact with the owner/operator at the Indian Pass Campgrounds at 3:08pm. The subject was a white male identified and was uninjured. I observed his vessel, which was a 16ft Fourwinds with a inboard/outboard motor. It was on its trailer and was badly burned (see attached photos). The registration number was unreadable, and the registration certificate had been consumed by the fire. The HIN plate, however, was unaffected and readable. It displayed 4WNTA126A888. 
  
  I interviewed Operator and had him fill out a witness statement. In his statement, Operator advised that he had launched his boat from Indian Pass. He was about 50-100 feet out when the engine stalled. He attempted to restart it with it throttled up when he heard an explosion. Flames were coming out of the floor compartment, and he could not get to his fire extinguisher. He jumped off and swam ashore. 
  
  Operator advised that he wasn't wearing a PFD at the time of the accident, but that he could swim. All of his safety equipment aboard had been consumed by the fire. He told me that he had his blower on at the time of the accident. 
  
  After assessing the damage to the vessel and interviewing the operator, it was determined that a machinery failure had taken place (the ventilation system had failed).