Pair burned in boat explosion

BAYVIEW — An Idaho Falls man and his 8-year-old grandson were severely burned Tuesday afternoon when the boat they were in exploded in Bayview on Lake Pend Oreille.

The vessel owner, Richard Wagner, 70, had just started the 1966 Tollycraft cabin cruiser when the incident occurred, reported the Kootenai County Sheriff’s Office.

“According to witness accounts, the boat was in one of the boat houses and when they were backing out, there was some sort of explosion,” said Timberlake Fire Chief Kevin Kleinworth. “The boy and the older man jumped out into the water.”

Several people assisted the two victims and also pushed the boat out of the slip as it was still on fire.

Kleinworth said his agency responded to the initial call and witnessed a large “header” of smoke coming from the scene.

Medical personnel arrived and transported the victims for medical care.

Timberlake Fire personnel extinguished the boat fire.

According to the sheriff’s office, the initial investigation revealed that the probable cause of the explosion and fire was due to built up fuel vapors in the engines’ bilge that had not been properly evacuated prior to starting the vessel.

A crew from Lake City Marine was called to the scene in an effort to recover the mostly-sunken boat.

 The Sheriff’s Recreation Safety Section is continuing the investigation.