The details of Wednesday’s boat fire in Kempenfelt Bay are becoming clearer, but the cause of the blaze is still unknown.
The vessel caught fire just before 1:30 p.m., Wednesday, approximately 100 feet offshore between the Tiffin Boat Launch and the Southshore Centre.
Barrie police spokesperson Peter Leon told BarrieToday the department's marine unit was able to help city firefighters douse the blaze from the water.
"Barrie police provided a platform for the fire department to fight the fire," Leon said Thursday. "We had two firefighters on board our boat, fighting the fire from the water."
There were also firefighters on land hosing down the flames.
What caused the fire remains undetermined.
Several people had to jump into the water when the blaze erupted.
Leon said the local family of five — two adults and three children — were all wearing personal flotation devices "and were able to get out of the boat very quickly."
BarrieToday attempted to speak to the family at the scene, Wednesday, but they declined to comment on what happened.
Emergency crews were also assisted by other boaters on the water.
"That's the boating community for you, coming to the aid of people," Leon said. "Boaters are a special breed and they take care of others without fail or hesitation."
Angus resident Logan Daly was one of the people on the lake who lent a helping hand.
Daly said five people were involved in the rescue, including two people on Sea-Doos and two people with him on his boat.
“When I reached them (the family), I cut off my motor. I didn't realize in the panic that I would have motor problems trying to start, with all the adrenaline pumping through my body,” Daly told BarrieToday.
“My boat collided with the boat that was on fire," he added. "I took my life into my own hands, pushed off the other boat while it was on fire.”
Daly said he suffered minor injuries to his face and legs, but is glad everyone was OK and that it “turned out to be a happy story.”
Deputy Fire Chief Ed Davis told BarrieToday there were no issues over leaked fuel in the water.
The city's “environmental services placed booms in a channel to absorb any fuel spills from entering, which will remain for a couple of days for maximum effect. The assessment of the area deemed no other environmental concerns,” said Davis.
