At approximately 1614 hours, we were flagged down by a passing vessel and advised of a boating incident in Dooly County.  The occupants of the vessel said a blue Sea-doo personal watercraft was on fire just south of the Georgia Highway 27 Bridge.  We responded to the area and made contact with the operator of the PWC who was uninjured.  

Upon arrival Operator was on another PWC with a friend.  The Dooly County Fire Department was on scene and had extinguished the fire on Operator’ PWC.  I asked Operator what happened, and she said she was traveling upriver when she jumped a wake and went airborne.  Operator said when she landed, the PWC shut off and would not start again.  

Operator said she tried to crank the PWC and it began smoking heavily and the front compartment caught on fire.  GW and CPL. photographed the damage on the PWC.  There was heavy fire damage in the engine compartment and the front storage compartment.  There was fire damage in the port side footwell and more fire damage along the port side gunwale, near the bow.  Operator’ mother arrived on scene and loaded the PWC on a trailer.  We were unable to determine what caused the PWC to catch on fire.  Technician said the PWC would be totaled, valued at approximately 17,000 dollars.

Lake Blackshear
VIENNA                        