On 06/05/2023 I, Game Warden was on a water patrol in Chatham County when I received a phone call from Chatham County Marine Patrol Officer in reference to a vessel that was on fire in Chimmney Creek in Chatham County. I was informed that nobody was injured or thrown into the water. Officer1 was already in route to the incident by land and I was going to respond by water, but would be unable to get into the creek being that it was low tide. Officer1 was able to get onscene and the fire was already put out. He was able to collect information for me.

	The owner of the vessel was on the vessel working on updating the chart plotter while the vessel was at his dock and as he was updating the chart plotter he was charging his battery. Owner stepped away from the vessel for approximately 10-15 minutes and his neighbor came over and informed Owner that his vessel was on fire. Owner's neighbor was able to get the fire department out and the fire department put the fire out. Officer1 received the call an hour after the fire began. The vessel is a total loss. Owner could not determine exactly what could have started the fire but says that it could be the lithium batteries that he put in there for the trolling motor. Nobody was injured and the vessel burned almost to the water line, but is not sinking and Owner is getting his vessel out of the water. I spoke with owner and he was able to confirm the information that I received.

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TYBEE ISLAND                  