Cause of boat fire still being investigated

Wednesday, July 20, 2005 | 9:30 a.m.

Authorities are still investigating the cause of an explosion and fire Monday night on an 18-foot boat at Lake Mead that critically burned two people and injured five others.

Two men, one 16-years-old, were airlifted from Callville Bay to the University Medical Center Burn Unit where they were reported in critical condition, National Park Service spokeswoman Roxanne Dey said late Tuesday.

Medical helicopters had been grounded Monday because of extreme heat in Southern Nevada, but the temperature dropped below 114 degrees, allowing Mercy Air to send two helicopters for the two most severely burned men, Dey said. The others were taken to UMC by ground ambulance.

The other five patients were treated and released from the hospital, Dey said.

The victims were from Nevada and California, Dey said.

None of the people involved in the boat fire allowed for their names to be released, Dey said.

The 1985 Sea Swirl was removed from the bay's waters at 2 p.m. Tuesday by Callville Bay Marina staff, Dey said.

About 8:30 p.m. Monday, Park Service dispatchers received a call reporting a boat on fire at the marina, Dey said. The boat was returning to the launch ramp when a flash vapor fire apparently occurred. The exact cause of the fire is unknown at this time, Dey said.

Marina employees pushed the burning boat away from other vessels in the harbor and used the marina's fire boat to extinguish the blaze at 9:10 p.m., Dey said.

Marina staff also placed a boom around the boat as a safety precaution to contain any leaking fuel from the vessel, which can carry 20 to 30 gallons of fuel.