Fire destroys boat on Rose Lake

A fire engulfed a boat on Rose Lake on Saturday night, but no injuries were reported.

"The cause of the fire is still under investigation, but preliminary indications show the fire started in the engine compartment, possibly due to a buildup of gas fumes," a Kootenai County Sheriff's Office press release states. "When rescue personnel arrived on scene they observed a boat fully engulfed on the middle of the lake."

Due to the location of the boat, fire personnel were unable to address the fire. However, the boat burned to the water line and was towed in by another vessel. The remaining fire was then extinguished.

The KCSO and Shoshone Fire and Rescue responded to the fire at 7:10 p.m.

The KCSO reminds boaters to make sure the engine compartment is properly ventilated prior to attempting to start the engine. It’s recommended that a ventilation system run for at least 4 minutes prior to starting the boat.

The backfire flame arrester should also be cleaned before operating your boat.

For questions about boat maintenance or to sign up for a free boating safety class, call the KCSO at 208-446-1361.