An 18-foot recreational motorboat was destroyed by fire before sinking in Lake Washington on Saturday evening, prompting a coordinated response from Mercer Island Marine Patrol and Seattle Harbor Patrol.
By 6pm, emergency crews were sent out to provide more aid following reports of a boat ablaze in the southern section of Lake Washington, between Seattle and Mercer Island. When officers arrived, they found the vessel fully engulfed in flames.
Marine patrol units from both agencies worked together, using water from the lake to extinguish the fire. However, as firefighters battled the blaze, the damaged boat began taking on water and eventually sank.
All occupants safely evacuated the vessel before first responders reached the scene, and authorities confirmed that no injuries were reported.
Investigators are now working to determine what sparked the fire.
In the aftermath of the incident, the Mercer Island Police Department urged boaters to prioritize safety by keeping their vessels well-maintained, ensuring all required safety equipment is onboard, and reporting emergencies immediately by calling 911 or contacting responders on the appropriate marine radio channel.
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