Wednesday 6/11/08

Photos contributed by Channel 9 Eyewitness News
An 80-foot houseboat owned by Cliff Champion exploded
Tuesday afternoon around 4 p.m. while refueling at the Westport Marina.
Chopper Nine Skyzoom flew over the fire and subsequent search for
one person reported missing after the explosion. Three other people weren't
seriously injured.

EXPLOSION!
Houseboat Goes Up While Refueling

By Jon Mayhew

DENVER -- Late Tuesday night, The Carolina Scoop learned a partial identity on a man missing after a boat he was refueling at Westpoint Marina exploded Tuesday afternoon. Authorities would only say the victim was 19 years old and that they knew his location in the water. What is making the rescue difficult for searchers is the massive amount of fuel spilled after the explosion. Medic officials say they believe the man only known as "Nate" drowned. The search for the missing man was called off around 9:30 p.m. Tuesday night and will resume around 8:00 a.m. Wednesday morning.

The Carolina Scoop was first to report on the marine incident that happened in Denver where three people suffered minor injuries and the 19-year-old went missing. A houseboat used for tours and weddings explodes Tuesday afternoon while refueling at Westport Marina on Highway 16. The incident happened around 4 p.m. and thick black smoke could be seen into the air for miles. Late Tuesday night, authorities said a spark while refueling may have caused the massive explosion.

Firefighters from East Lincoln, Denver and Alexis were called to battle the fire from the ground. Boats from Gilead, Cornelius and East Lincoln were called in to search for a man who disappeared after the boat exploded. According to reporter Tim Caputo with WSOC-TV, three other people were treated by Lincoln Medic for minor injuries; the two females and a male weren't close to the boat when it exploded.

A Charlotte/Mecklenburg Police Department helicopter was also called in to aid in the search.

Investigators were trying to determine whether or not the missing man was an employee of the marina. An employee who answered the phone at Westport Marina refused to comment when asked. A message left for Lincoln County Emergency Management director Susan Spake wasn't returned to The Carolina Scoop.

Denver firefighters reported seeing smoke from their station while responding to the initial call.

Lincoln County Emergency Management responded, as well as Crouse Fire with the department's hazmat trailer. Pictures from the fire were provided by future Carolina Scoop news partner Channel 9 Eyewitness News.

Reports from the scene indicated one of the two women swam to a residence on Blackwood Road, telling the homeowners that she couldn't see.

The houseboat, owned by Cliff Champion, was once a sore spot for some Lake Norman residents, who claimed the boat was an eyesore on the otherwise "pristine waters of Lake Norman." In the last couple of years, Champion graciously donated his boat to assist authorities in searches for drowning vitcims on Lake Norman, even providing his boat as a recovery point for rescuers.

The boat began sinking around 5:30 p.m. and kept steadily sinking throughout the evening. Searchers cited having a difficult time getting into the water because of the large amount of fuel that spilled after the explosion.

Bradley and Crystal Randall were in their house from across the cove and told WSOC-TV reporter Ken Lemon they both saw smoke and fire coming from the boat.

"The boat busted loose," said Bradley Randall.

Besides the large amount of fuel in the water, searchers were keeping an eye to the skies. A thunderstorm was predicted to move through east Lincoln Tuesday night.

Mecklenburg County Water Quality Program also offered assistance regarding the cleanup of the fuel spill caused by the explosion. Authorities also talked about doing a reverse 911 Tuesday night to residents around the incident regarding the fuel spill.


Photo contribunted by Channel 9 Eyewitness News