Fire Territory Provides Update On Saturday Boat Fire
Posted
David Slone-dslone@timesuniononline.com
SYRACUSE – The Turkey Creek Fire Territory provided more information Monday afternoon on Saturday’s boat fire on Lake Wawasee.
At 2 p.m. Saturday, the Turkey Creek Fire Territory responded to a report of a boat that had exploded with two people with burn injuries at the Wawasee Boat Company, 6542 E. Cornelius Road. Upon arrival, two subjects were reported with burn injuries and were transported by ambulance to the hospital in Fort Wayne, according to the news release from the Fire Territory.
A 1995 Wellcraft Martinque 3200 with two 225 HP Mercruiser engines and two full 50-gallon fuel tanks was noted across the channel fully involved with fire. The fuel tanks had been filled at the fuel pumps at the marina prior to the explosion and moved away from the fuel pumps after the explosion and fire by personnel of the marina, the release states.
The fire was brought under control and extinguished at approximately 3 p.m. with damages from the fire contained to the boat. The boat did sink in the channel.
Mutual aid was provided by the North Webster-Tippecanoe Township Fire Department with a tanker and a fire/rescue boat.
Absorbent flotation booms were deployed around the boat to contain gasoline on the water around the boat. Efforts to remove the boat from the water are underway, according to the release.
The boat is a total loss with damages estimated at up to $24,000. The owner of the boat is Jeffrey Honzik, Culver.
Other agencies assisting at the scene were the Indiana Department of Natural Resources, the Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Office and the Syracuse Police Department.
