RedactedNarrative: On 08/21/2018 while on water patrol on Lake Okeechobee I responded to a boat fire in the area of Taylor Creek.  I was informed that a boat was on fire and it had spread to an adjoining shed and dock.  I was also informed that Okeechobee Fire services were on scene.  The reported address for the fire in the Canal behind the house leading to Taylor Creek.  I arrived on scene and could see the boat fully engulfed in flames along with portions of the dock and shed.  The vessel had burnt through it mooring lines to the dock and had started to float stern first into the canal.  Working with Okeechobee Fire on my vessel they were able to control the vessel and extinguish the fire.  
  Contact was made with the owner of the vessel.  He stated that he was not at the residence when the fire started but was at a local VFW lodge.  He stated that he was contacted and informed about the fire and came to the residence immediately.  He stated that the vessel had been having repairs done to it recently and was unsure of what could have caused the fire.  He stated that all repairs had been paid for and he was on no bad terms with anyone regarding the vessel or otherwise.  He also stated that another man was supposedly seen on the property prior to the fire.
  
  I along with a Detective and Okeechobee SO relocated near the fire.  Upon locating him we began to speak with him about the fire.  He stated that he didn’t mind talking to us.  During his conversation with our Detective he stated that he had not been to the residence where the boat was in about a month to a month and half.  As he spoke about the incident and was asked about people seeing him there his story changed to he had been there but only drove down the road to see what was going on.  This changed further to he had pulled up and got out to get a fuel line, but after hearing the boat was on fire he left because he didn’t want to get blocked in by emergency equipment.  He also went on to explain to us that the fuel line in went to pick up he hadn’t had in about a month due to it being by the boat but it was ok cause it probably burnt up so on his way home he bought a new one.  He also went into great detail about the condition of the boat and how since it had nearly sunk prior it had oil and gas covering the inside, and that he remarked to the owner several times it needed to be cleaned.  He stated that the vessel was almost sinking and was in bad shape requiring it to be pumped out every day.  His attitude and mannerisms while speaking to him was excited and nervous acting.  He also thorough the course of the conversation stated several times he didn’t have anything to do with the fire and he conscious was clear that he didn’t do anything reasonable for the fire.  
  It should be noted that the condition of the vessel according to him was somewhat contradictory to the condition reported by the owner.  It stated a lot of repairs had been completed and the inside of the vessel had be cleaned.  Also I was able to obtain photos of the vessel not long after it had caught fire.  These photos show the vessel not sitting heavy with water or listing to one side or the other.
  After speaking with the man, Detective  stated that he believed that the fire was caused due to mechanical issues.