PARK RANGERS RESPOND TO BOAT EXPLOSION AT CALLVILLE BAY MARINA

Date: August 20, 2009
Contact: Andrew S. Munoz

LAS VEGAS – National Park Service rangers and firefighters, and Clark County Fire Department responded to a boat explosion at the Callville Bay Marina this evening.  Rangers received the report from marina employees at 6 p.m.

Seven people from Las Vegas were aboard when the explosion happened. Five were injured; three were transported by ambulance to University Medical Center, two declined treatment. Injuries included burns and abrasions.

Forever Resorts marina employees provided first aid to the injured and protected visitors by moving the boat away from the marina.

While the exact cause of the incident remains under investigation, investigators suspect that this may have been caused by a build up of gasoline fumes.

Park rangers suggest that boaters follow these precautions to prevent an explosion while fueling: 

- Close all hatches and other openings before fueling.
- Extinguish all cigarettes and other open flames.
- Turn off engines, all electrical equipment, radios, stoves and other
appliances.
- Remove all passengers.
- Keep the fill nozzle in contact with the tank and wipe up any spilled
fuel. Spilled fuel can turn into vapors.
- Open all ports, hatches and doors to ventilate after fueling.
- Run the blower for at least four minutes.
- Check the bilges for fuel vapors before starting the engine.
- Make sure there is no odor of gasoline anywhere in the boat before
starting the boat.