A wakeboard boat caught fire late Monday morning on Norris Lake shortly after being launched at Anderson County Park.
TWRA Wildlife Officer Jason Lankford responded to the incident that occurred around 11 a.m. where a 2012 22-foot Supra wakeboard boat being driven by a lone female operator was engulfed by a fire that started near the vessel’s engine.
The woman’s husband informed Officer Lankford that the he had just launched the vessel when his wife took the boat down the lake for a short ride while he was parking the vehicle. The man also noted that the engine's power ventilation system, which is designed to help prevent boat fires, was being used as the vessel was launched.
As the boat made way toward Sequoyah marina and turned to come back, the man, who was watching from the shore, noticed smoke coming from the boat’s stern where the engine is located. When the engine stalled the woman opened the engine hatch and the vessel engulfed into flames. Wisely, she retrieved a personal flotation device and jumped into the water. A nearby boat came and rescued the accident victim.
The burning boat drifted to an island at the confluence of the Clinch and Powell Rivers where it continued to burn until being extinguished by members of the Andersonville Fire Department.