RedactedNarrative: On Friday, May 25, 2018, around 14:30, Operator was out on his 40ft. Viking vessel in Adams Creek.  He was traveling North to Oriental to eat lunch with his wife, two friends and a small dog.  He was cruising at about 15 knots when he heard a loud pop.  He looked back and saw black smoke.  Operator immediately shut the power down and went to the engine room to investigate.  He pulled the motor hatch up and immediately flames shot out of the engine room, so he quickly grabbed the nearest fire extinguisher to try to put out the flames.  When that fire extinguisher was empty Operator grabbed a second fire extinguisher and used it to try to put out the flames, but it ran out before he could extinguish all the flames.  The fire grew rapidly and that's when operator ordered everyone off the boat.  So everyone jumped in the water.  Luckily at that time another vessel came by and assisted everyone out of the water and onto their vessel. 
  
  Around 14:50 that day, I received a call from Officer about a boat on fire in Adams Creek.  He told me he was enroute and I told him I would be there shortly.  Sea Tow and Towboat US arrived on scene around the same time.  When I arrived on scene at approximately 15:55, Officer Ingle and the Coast Guard were already on scene along with Beaufort and Cherry Point Fire Departments.  At that time, the vessel was completely burned down to the hull and fire crews were still attempting to put it out.  Tow Boat US hauled the vessel out of the water on Wednesday May 31, 2018 at 2:00 am. 
  
  After the vessel was hauled in on land, it was inspected for damage.  A large hole in the muffler was found along with more damage on the portside stern than on the starboard side stern.  This leads to the conclusion that the fire started in the muffler on the portside and spread throughout the vessel.  It was determined that the most likely cause of the incident was failure of the water pump system or heat exchange system causing the muffler to over heat and burn up.  The total estimated loss of the vessel was $40,000 and no injuries were reported.
  
  BARD, PLEASE NOTE:  THE PART OF THE REPORT THAT HAS WHAT SYSTEMS FAILED DID NOT HAVE A SELECTION FOR "WATER PUMP SYSTEM FAILURE" AND THAT IS WHY NOTHING WAS SELECTED IN THAT AREA.
  
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