Fire on boat leads to sinking

A community effort on Rainy Lake extinguished a fire on a drifting boat on Loon Bay, Rainy Lake, near Rainy Lake Houseboats and Thunderbird Lodge Monday evening.
Tom Dougherty said he was having dinner at his brother Billy’s residence when they saw a boat on fire drifting toward docked houseboats. Falls Fire Department was notified by an anonymous 911 call.
The Doughertys and Steve Takaichi, placed a water pump in one boat connected to a hose manned in another boat. An anchor and chain was used to pull the boat away from the houseboats and water was pumped into the boat. Camp Kooch-i-ching’s fire boat also aided in the effort. The 1979 Galaxy fiberglass inboard/outboard boat, which belonged to Alex English, Otsego, Minn., had just fueled at the houseboat’s pumps, according to Fire Department officials, who added that it is believed that the boat’s blower was not operated before attempting to start the engine, which ignited the boat.
Tom Dougherty said the fire should serve as a reminder to all boat operators to make sure that the blower is used and the boat is in proper operating condition. He also advised boat owners to carry an extinguisher and to check the engine compartment for gas after fueling.
Dougherty also said the fire raises concerns about fire protection for structures along Rainy Lake’s shoreline as well as on nearby islands.