(AURORA, Ky.) — Emergency responders were called to Kenlake Marina following reports of a boat explosion at the fuel dock on Friday.
According to officials, the vessel had recently refueled with 200 gallons of fuel when the explosion occurred. Marina security footage captured the incident on video.
The boat’s fire suppression system activated successfully, quickly extinguishing flames in the engine compartment. However, the blast damaged the vessel’s lower level flooring and displaced several interior components.
A female passenger who was in the boat’s lower level at the time of the explosion sustained burns and was transported to an out-of-state hospital for treatment.
Authorities noted that the boat’s owners are experienced operators who had been conducting repairs on the vessel. They had properly used ventilation blowers before the incident. Fortunately, no fuel spilled into the water, preventing potential environmental contamination.
Multiple agencies responded to the scene, including:
- South Marshall Fire Department
- Kentucky State Fire Marshal’s Office
- Kentucky State Environmental Protection
- Kentucky Fish and Wildlife
- Kentucky State Park Rangers
- Marshall County Sheriff’s Department
East Marshall Fire Department and Marshall County Rescue Squad also responded but were not ultimately needed. Marshall County Dispatch coordinated communications throughout the emergency response.
The cause of the explosion remains under investigation. Community members are asked to keep the boat owners in their thoughts during this difficult time.