RedactedNarrative: On wednesday, august 26, 2020 at approximately 1200 hours, five people met with subject at the portage marina. Subject, who owns cms marine inc, rented a 1993 searay motorboat to subject2.
            at approximately 1215 hours, while underway on burns ditch under the rt 12 overpass, they all noticed white smoke coming from the engine compartment. Operator proceeded to shut the motor off. The motorboat drifted down burns ditch to the white buoy where the motorboat was anchored. Operator proceeded to use a fire extingusher in an attempt to put out the fire. With the possibility of the fire spreading, all 5 passengers abandoned the motorboat by jumping into burns ditch. Surrounding bystanders/boaters assisted all 5 with bringing them to safety. No injuries were reported. 
            the motorboat was towed back to portage marina and removed from the water.
  Upon examining the battery/engine compartment, it appears the fire started at the battery which was partially melted. Subject stated that he had just put that particular battery in the boat which was new. Photographs of the boat and engine/battery compartment were taken.
  