MADISON, Wis. — Three people swam to shore Monday night after their jet boat caught fire while on Lake Monona.
The Madison Fire Department responded to the shore near East Wilson Street at around 11:30 p.m. The Lake Rescue Team launched from Olin Park after officials saw a fully engulfed boat roughly 75 to 100 feet offshore.
According to an incident report, the three people who were on the boat jumped into the water and safely swam back to shore. The boat continued to drift and nearly threatened a floating dock nearby.
The MFD’s rescue boat used an on-board water stream to knock down the fire. Officials used the stream to push the boat closer to shore at Law Park and secured it with a rope. Water can extinguishers were also used to put out the remaining hot spots.
The owner of the boat told officials he recently bought it. He said the boat worked without issue until it would not restart after being turned off for a period of time on the water.
The report said the owner tried to restart the boat several times, but the vehicle’s motor flashed and sparked the fire.
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