GRAND HAVEN, Mich. — The Ottawa County Sheriff Office Marine Patrol and Robinson Township Fire Department were called in to handle a boat that caught fire on the Grand River near Riverside Park.
Authorities say that the boat operator had recently purchased the boat – an 18′ Century – and had launched it at the Conestoga Camp Ground. He took the boat out to the middle of the river to warm up when he heard a “pop” from the engine area. When he removed the engine cover from the boat, flames began to come out of the engine area. He used the fire extinguisher on the boat but was unable to put out the fire. After he emptied the extinguisher, he moved to the bow area of the boat and jumped off, where he was then picked up by a passing boater.
His boat drifted about a quarter mile down stream, fully engulfed in flames. It was unoccupied.
An Ottawa County Sheriff Office marine fire boat along with Robinson Township Fire Department worked together to extinguish the fire and bring the boat to shore. Both departments sprayed water and foam on the boat to put the fire out.
The boat operator was not injured and was the only occupant on the boat at the time when the fire started.
