Boat fire on Spider Lake injures 1

Kathryn DePauw, The Record-Eagle, Traverse City, Mich.
·1 min read

Jul. 22—TRAVERSE CITY — Four passengers were aboard when a boat caught both fire and attention on Spider Lake.

Around 3 p.m. Saturday, Grand Traverse County Sheriff's Office, Grand Traverse Metro Fire, and East Bay EMS responded to reports of a boat aflame near Albert Courtade Road in East Bay Township.

The boat's occupants jumped overboard to escape the fire and were rescued by nearby boaters, according to a statement from the sheriff's office.

After being escorted to shore, a 39-year-old female was transported to Munson Medical Center for non-life-threatening burns. No other injuries were reported.

The boat's owner, a 49-year-old Berrien County man, told the Grand Traverse County Sheriff's Office that the incident occurred when they "heard a pop" from the engine and the boat quickly became "engulfed in flames." Grand Traverse Metro fire is still investigating the cause of the fire.

Metro fire was assisted by concerned citizens in putting the fire out, according to the statement, and were able to prevent the boat from sinking. The boat was taken to the boat launch and put on a trailer.

Kathryn DePauw covers Indigenous Affairs in partnership with Report for America.