ON SATURDAY 7/29/23 AT APPROXIMATELY 6:22PM I WAS NOTIFIED OF A LAKE RESCUE CALL ON LAKE MONONA. MY PARTNER AND I WERE ON MARKED SHERIFF'S BOAT 3 OPERATING ON LAKE MONONA FOR OUR MARINE AND TRAIL BOAT PATROL SHIFT. WE ARRIVED ON SCENT AT APPROXIMATELY 6:25PM. I OBSERVED A BOAT WITH SMOKE COMING FROM ITS STERN AND TWO BOATS OPERATING IN THE VICINITY. IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE TWO BOATS IN THE VICINITY HAD THE PASSENGERS FORM THE BOAT THAT WAS SMOKING. WE APPROACHED THE SMOKING BOAT TO ATTEMPT TO EXTINGUISH IT. UPON APPROACH FLAMES EMERGED REACHING 5FT IN HEIGHT. SEVERAL SMALL EXPLOSIONS WERE HEARD. 

I DECIDED TO DISTANCE OURSELVES AND LET THE BOAT, WHICH WAS NOT FULLY ENGULFED IN FLAMES, SINK. I RESPONDED TO THE BOATS WITH THE PASSENGERS FROM THE BURNING BOAT. I WAS ADVISED THE RESPONDING BOATS HAD UTILIZED FIRE EXTINGUISHERS TO ATTEMPT TO STOP THE FIRE. ALL FOUR OCCUPANTS WERE TRANSFERED TO SHERIFF BOAT THREE WITHOUT INCIDENT. NO INJURIES WERE REPORTED. FIRST PARTY EMS REFUSAL. FIRE BOAT RESPONDED AND ATTEMPTED TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE. THE BOAT CONTINUED TO BURN UNTIL IT SANK NEAR THE OLBRICH BOAT LAUNCH. AFTER CONFIRMING AGAIN THERE WAS NO NEED FOR EMS AND GETTING STATEMENTS FROM THE OCCUPANTS I TOOK THEM TO THEIR VEHICLE AND TRAILER LOCATED AT OLIN BOAT LAUNCH. I ADVISED THE BOAT OPERATOR TO COMPLETE A DNR SELF CRASH REPORT IN ADDITION TO MY CRASH REPORT. THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE WAS ABLE TO WINCH THE BOAT OUT OF THE WATER ONTO SHORE WHERE SCHMIDTS TOWING LOADED IT ONTO A FLAT BED AND TOOK IT TO THEIR LOT.
Lake Monona
Madison                       