On October 27th, 2023, at approximately 1710 hours, I Officer of the Maryland Natural Resources Police along with Corporal of the Maryland Natural Resources Police were on duty when a hailing call came over channel 16 saying there was a vessel on fire in the Patapsco River underneath the Key Bridge. Corporal and I were underway on NRP 851 and left Middle River en route to the Patapsco River. We arrived on scene at approximately 1739 hours. Once we arrived on scene, we made sure everyone was accounted for from the vessel and that there was no one still in the water or vessel. Baltimore City Fire Boat already had the vessel fire contained and everyone off the vessel.

    Corporal and I then were able to take the two individuals that were on the vessel onto our vessel. We ensured that they did not need any medical treatment, and they denied all medical treatment. We also ensured that there was no one else on the vessel, and they stated that they were the only two on the vessel. The vessel was a 35-foot Ericson Yacht sailboat with an inboard Atomic Foreign 30 horsepower gas engine.
    When I asked Subject1 what had happened that would have possibly started the fire, he explained to me that there had been an exhaust leak that he had put hose clamps on and thought he had fixed. He said that it appears he may not have fixed it as early in that day the carbon monoxide alarm was going off. 

I asked Subject1 if the blower on the vessel worked, and he stated yes that he had even used it that day. Subject1 explained to me that he was traveling south underneath the Key Bridge doing approximately 6.5 knots when they heard a loud pop and the next thing, they knew was the vessel's cabin was engulfed in flames. 

A good Samaritan who was out there fishing was able to take both Subject1 and Subject2 on their boat and rescue them until Baltimore City Fire arrived on scene. The good Samaritan had left the scene before we arrived. The vessel had burned from the mast and cabin down to the gunnel. I asked Subject1 if he had all the safety equipment required by the United States Coast Guard on his vessel and he stated yes to all the required safety equipment.

    Subject1 has towing insurance through Geico and had US tow boat tow his vessel back to Rock Creek where Subject2 had parked his car. Both individuals rode with tow boat back into Rock Creek. I will be in touch with Subject1 about the estimated damage to his vessel.

All events occurred in Baltimore City

Patapsco R-Except Main Trib-HS
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