Scooter MacMillan, Editor

Courtesy photo
Firefighters’ view of a burning boat on the night of Sept. 10 at Point Bay Marina.

Around 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 10, the Charlotte Volunteer Fire and Rescue Services were called to a boat burning in Lake Champlain off Point Bay Marina in Town Farm Bay.

After searching the water with Charlotte’s Marine 3 boat to make sure there weren’t any victims in the water, the department managed to snag the burning boat with a rope and tow it away from the docks and other boats.

When the fire broke out, the owner was on board. When he was unsuccessful in extinguishing the fire, he jumped into the water and was brought to shore by a passing boat.

Shelburne Fire Department arrived and was able to extinguish the blaze with its fire boat, one of the few such boats in the area with this capability. Once the fire was out the boat was towed to the shore so it could be removed from the lake.

Chief Justin Bliss said no one was hurt during the fire. Firefighters believe the fire started in the boat’s electrical system, but damage was too extensive to verify this. The boat was a total loss.

Glen Findholt, who lives next door to the marina, was one of several people who sent in photos of the fire. He said the fire was so intense he could feel the heat from aboard his boat.

Ferrisburgh Volunteer Fire Department also responded to the fire with a tanker truck and a zodiac-style boat.