RedactedNarrative: ON 7/3/2018 at about 12:30 est, a family was preparing to lock upstream from Chickamauga lake to Watts Bar lake.  They were in three separate vessels.  While attempting to restart the "Pickled Tink" a 16 foot 1958 model Biesemyr boat, an explosion was heard near the engine area in the rear.  Flames were noticed onboard the boat immediately.  
  Subject who was seated near the rear of the vessel sustained first and second degree burns to the shin area of his legs.  All occupants except the operator exited the vessel wearing life jackets and swam for the accompanying vessels in their party.  The operator attempted to put the fire out with the fire extinguisher on the vessel, but the flames had spread rapidly and overtook the vessel.  The pictures attached to this report were taken by the lock master at Watts Bar Dam.  The lockmaster stated that the boat was fully engulfed in less than 5 minutes .  The injured child was transported by ambulance to a local hospital.   The lock doors had started opening during the fire and the empty vessel drifted into the lock while on fire.  The workers at the lock were able to extinguish the flames with a fire hose.  The burned vessel then sunk in the lock.  Tow Boat US was called and they were able to remove the vessel from the lock that night.  It was loaded onto a wrecker at Pin Hook Ferry below the dam.  The vessel was a total loss.
  