On Wednesday, January 25, 2023, at approximately 15:24 hours, Game Warden (GW) received a call from the Georgia State Patrol (GSP) Radio Room with information about a vessel fire at Holiday Harbor Marina & Resort, located at 5989 Groovers Landing, Acworth Georgia 30102-2927. Sergeant responded to the location of the fire.

GSP dispatch information (GSPA23CAD006699) indicates that the fire was out before contacting GW Warren. The request for the Georgia Department of Natural Resources – Law Enforcement Division (GADNRLED) was for report completion. Sergeant arrived at the location at approximately 15:49 hours, gathered vessel and witness information, and left the scene at approximately 17:30 hours.

The following account of the events and information about the vessels has been gathered and documented by GW, a POST certified peace officer with the GADNRLED.

Vessels Involved:
1.	Sea Ray bearing Georgia registration.
       a.	Total loss.
2.	Destination Yachts bearing Georgia registration.
       a.	Damage in excess of $2,000.00. Final (official) estimate of damage to be determined.
3.	Sweetwater bearing Georgia registration.
       a.	Damage in excess of $2,000.00. Final (official) estimate of damage to be determined.
4.	Tracker bearing Georgia registration.
       a.	Damage in excess of $2,000.00. Final (official) estimate of damage to be determined.
5.	Javelin bearing Georgia registration.
       a.	Damage in excess of $2,000.00. Final (official) estimate of damage to be determined.

Events as described through witness statements:

Witness Statement One

Witness1, a member of the maintenance staff at Holiday Harbor Marina & Resort, was working on RV site with three other staff members. Two of these members were present at the location, the third was off site. At approximately 14:34 hours Witness1’s coworker, stated that “looks like a boat fire”. Witness1 and the other coworker, turned and looked toward the docks. From their location at RV site, they could see the Courtesy, Rental, A, B, C, and G docks. Smoke was visible from the area around B dock. Witness1 asked if he should go check it out and was told yes. Witness1 drove his personal vehicle toward B dock and once he was within a good visible distance, he could see flames coming from the back of a vessel on dock.

Witness1 parked his vehicle and used his radio to notify other team members that there was an active fire, that he was heading to the fire, and that he needed assistance. After a short delay (about 15 seconds), due to not being able to locate the correct dock gate code, he entered the gate and ran down the dock. During his entry into the dock, he verbally notified anyone who might have been on any boats that there was an ongoing fire, and they must evacuate. To his knowledge, there were no individuals on any vessel at the dock. While Witness1 approached vessel one (Sea Ray) that was on fire, an owner of Holiday Harbor Marina & Resort was running toward him telling him to grab fire extinguishers and to try to put the fire out. 

Witness1 grabbed a fire extinguisher (dry chemical) and began to fight the fire. The fire was located on the starboard/stern of the vessel and included the first deck, and the flames quickly spread along the rear of the vessel. Owner was also using fire extinguishers at this time when he stated, “the cabin is involved, cut the boat loose, get it out before it catches the dock or other boats”. Witness1, using his utility knife cut the starboard/stern line and then cut the starboard/bow line. He cut the lines because the wind conditions had pulled the
Allatoona Lake
CARTERSVILLE                  