On June 25th, 2023, at approximately 20:00, a vessel fire occurred on Nickajack Lake, in the Baylor School area of Hamilton County, TN. The incident involved a 33 ft., white, Carver motor yatch. Immediately prior to the incident, the owner inserted roughly 10 gallons of fuel into the vessel. When attempting to crank the engine to start the motor, the carburetor was claimed to have caught fire, which immediately began to spread under the motor and to the rest of the vessel. 

Both fire extinguishers on board were used in attempt to extinguish the fire, but the flames continued to spread and eventually caused an explosion, which fully engulfed the vessel. This resulted in the total loss of the vessel. 

All 3 occupants aboard were able to safely make it away from the burning vessel. Immediately following the incident, the Chattanooga Fire Department appeared on scene to extinguish the fire, clean up the debris, and do safety checks on all three occupants of the vessel. The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency was not made aware of the incident until the following morning, at which time an investigation of the incident began. There were no serious injuries as a result of this incident.

Operator stated that he could not remember venting prior to starting the engine and the vessel was still moored to the gas dock at the time of the fire.
NICKAJACK RESERVOIR
CHATTANOOGA                   