RedactedNarrative: Vessel 1 caught fire while underway and sank off the coast of Sanibel Island in the Gulf of Mexico
  
  Operator1 told us that they were underway running at his normal cruising speed of approximately 101/2 MPH when he and his wife heard an alarm going off. Wife took the helm while Operator1 went to check out where the problem was coming from. Operator1 said when he opened the engine compartment hatch a large plume of black smoke hit him causing him to fall to his knees after inhaling the smoke. Operator1 then yelled to his wife to "not come down" to the engine compartment. Wife immediately noticed the smoke and grabbed two life jackets and prepared to jump over board. Before jumping into the water Operator1 attempted to pull an emergency "pin" for his anchor but was unsuccessful. A nearby boat (Freaky Sabiki) saw what was going on and was telling them to jump into the water. When they jumped into the water, the vessel (Freaky Sabiki),  rescued them within minutes from the water then transferred them to Ofc..  Operator1 said he "doesn't know exactly how the fire started, but that it started below the deck in the engine compartment. When he opened the hatch he stated that it looked like a lot of smoke was possibly coming from a hydraulic pump manifold or near the generator but wasn't quite sure due to the large amounts of black smoke coming out. 
  
  During our interview with Operator1 he told us that it was the first time they had taken the boat out since they had some significant repairs to the motors. Mainly from an oil leak that was leaking into the water at their marina. While the repairs were being made Operator1 had the mechanic's perform some routine maintenance (oil change's ect).  Operator1 said the repairs and maintenance cost them approximately $50,000. When I asked Operator1 if he thought the recent work done to the motors and engine compartment had anything to do with the starting of the fire he said he "wasn't sure because he ran the motors for approximately one hour and checked everything the day before leaving their marina".  
  
  After Ofc. and I concluded our interview at the residence. I made contact with Operator1's Insurance agent with TMS National (TMSN) a technical service and information provider to Markel American, insurer(s) of the 1993 58' Neptunus vessel. He informed me that the insurance company is hiring Kelly Brothers Inc. out of Ft. Myers, FL to contain any contaminants that may be leaking and to remove the vessel from the water as instructed by the USCG and to perform a cause and origin for their own investigation. A preliminary investigation by the State Fire Marshal's Office determined electrical failure in the engine compartment.