RedactedNarrative: ON MONDAY JUNE 28, 2021 AT APPROXIMATELY 7:42 AM, SWAIN COUNTY 911 CENTER RECEIVED A REPORT OF A VESSEL ON FIRE AT FLAT BRANCH BOAT ACCESS AREA ON FONTANA RESERVOIR, LOCATED AT THE END OF GREASY BRANCH ROAD. WEST SWAIN VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED AND FOUND THE VESSEL DRIFTING OFF THE BANK, WEST OF THE BOAT RAMP UNOCCUPIED.  IT CONTINUED DRIFTING APPROXIMATELY 150 FEET UNTIL IT CAME TO REST AGAINST THE BANK. FIREFIGHTERS WERE ABLE TO EXTINGUISH THE FLAMES.  OFFICER 1 ARRIVED AT APPROXIMATELY 8:31 AM IN CONJUNCTION WITH SWAIN COUNTY FIRE MARSHALL BEGAN THE BOAT INCIDENT INVESTIGATION. THE OWNER OF THE VESSEL, ARRIVED AT APPROXIMATELY 9:00 AM. SHE STATED THAT THE VESSEL HAD BEEN LEFTTIED TO THE SHORE AT APPROXIMATELY 6:00 AM THE PREVIOUS MORNING, JUNE 27TH AND HER HUSBAND HAD THE KEY TO THE VESSEL.  NO WITNESSES HAVE REPORTED SEEING ANYONE ON THE VESSEL WHILE IT WAS BURNING AND THERE HAVE BEEN NO MISSING PERSONS REPORTED.  ALL COMBUSTIBLE MATERIALS FROM THE CONSOLE TO THE TRANSOM BURNED. THERE IS SOME MELTING ON THE ENGINE COWLING AND PARTS OF THE ALUMINUM AROUND THE GUNNELS AND RAILING MELTED.   AT THIS TIME, IT IS UNKNOWN HOW THE FIRE BEGAN.  FIRE MARSHALL HAS AN OPEN FIRE INVESTIGATION.
  
  
  *********************THIS IS AN OPEN FIRE INVESTIGATION.  WHEN MORE INFORMATION IS RECEIVED, THIS REPORT WILL BE UPDATED AT THAT TIME.*********************