RedactedNarrative: On 6/26/2020 at approximately 1023hrs I was dispatched to respond to a boat fire in the Gunpowder River in the area of Oliver Beach. I responded to vessel NRP842 at Dundee Creek Marina and at approximately 1042hrs arrived on scene to find Baltimore County Fire Boat 21 towing a burned out hull just east of the Amtrak bridge between Oliver Point and Iron Point in the Gunpowder River. I made contact with the fire boat and learned that all subjects had been recovered by good Samaritans but they did not know where they were taken. They were towing the vessel to a boat ramp. I then asked DNR communications to make contact with Baltimore County Fire/Police to find out where the subjects were taken and it was learned they were at Mariner Point Park boat ramp in Joppatowne, MD. Another Officer then responded to the park to make contact with the victims. When he arrived at the park he learned that the vessel only had one occupant who was identified as Operator 1. Operator 1 had no injuries and had recently purchased the vessel 3 weeks ago. Operator 1 had put the vessel in the water at the Mariner Point boat ramp and still had his keys so he then drove his truck and empty trailer to the boat ramp at Greenbank Rd to claim his vessel and meet with the tow boat/salvage company that had taken over and was on scene. The vessel was secured to the boat ramp pier. The hot spots were put out by Baltimore County Fire who was on scene waiting for our arrival. I was able to confirm the vessel registration as MD 9501BZ which per COMPASS is a 19 foot Trophy fiberglass motorboat with 115hp outboard motor. The vessel had an expired registration of 12/31/2019.
  
  Operator 1 arrived at the boat ramp at approximately 1205hrs. I attempted to get a formal written statement from him but he was still very shaken up, upset, and stated he was having trouble writing. He relayed verbally that he purchased the vessel approximately 3 weeks ago. Operator 1 stated that the dealer took care of all the registration and title paperwork and that the boat had temporary registration stickers (only the numbers on one side of the vessel were not burned and both sides of the hull had the yearly registration stickers burned away). Operator 1 stated the vessel had some engine problems initially and took it back to the dealer for repairs and they supposedly replaced the "water separator filter" and Operator 1 got his boat back on Tuesday 6/23/2020. Today Operator 1 put the boat in the water at Mariner Point Park in order to go for a cruise, fish, and to test the motor with his friends who were on a different boat. Operator 1 stated they had been motoring and fishing around the Gunpowder River for approximately 2 hours when the engine began to sputter. He stated he turned it off just on the East side of the Amtrak bridge and the two vessels fished for a little while to give the engine time to "settle" before trying to restart the engine. He said the boat had half a tank of gas in it which was last filled up by the dealer. When Operator 1 attempted the restart the engine there was a small explosion and per the witness, and the engine case shot up in the air and immediately the engine caught fire. Operator 1 stated he used his single fire extinguisher but it did not stop the fire. Operator 1 then put his life jacket on and jumped in the water and stated it was very shallow to the point that his lower legs got stuck in the mud. His friend then jumped off his boat and helped to pull Operator 1 to safety back on his vessel nearby. Once the fireboat arrived on scene Operator 1’s friends took Operator 1 back to the Mariner Point boat ramp where they met first responders and another Officer. Operator 1 refused any EMS response.
  Once the boat was deemed safe by the fire department, Chesapeake Marine Towing and Salvage was able to pump the hull out and get it back on Operator 1’s trailer and took it to their shop and salvage yard at Middle River Landing. Once the involved vessel was secured to the trailer all units cleared. Since Operator 1 did not have his temporary registration, or the new title, and COMPASS still had the previous owners listed. I therefore called the dealer to confirm the purchase of the boat by Operator 1 and have attached the paperwork they sent to me as proof of purchase and registration. Operator 1 does have boat insurance through GEICO/BOAT US. 
  All events occurred in Baltimore County