A man escaped unharmed after his boat became engulfed in flames on Fox Lake, forcing him to put on his life jacket and jump into the water before being rescued by a Good Samaritan Thursday afternoon.
The Antioch Fire Department, Fox Lake Fire Protection District and Lake County Sheriff’s Office Marine Unit responded around 2:35 p.m. Thursday to Captain’s Quarters, 38283 North Bolton Place in unincorporated Antioch, for a report of a boat on fire on Fox Lake.
Captain’s Quarters is a marina restaurant and bar located on the north shore of Fox Lake.
A 63-year-old Elmwood Park man launched his 1990s Fountain Cruiser boat after recently having it serviced and began heading towards Captain’s Quarters, Lake County Sheriff’s Office Chief Christopher Covelli said.
“As he was getting close, he noticed smoke from a fire in the engine compartment of his inboard engine area,” Covelli said.
The boat was approximately 200 yards from Captain’s Quarters when it caught on fire.
The man was going to extinguish the flames with a fire extinguisher, but the fire quickly grew and engulfed much of the boat.
The man quickly donned his life jacket and jumped in the water to escape the fire, Covelli said.
A Good Samaritan then picked him up from the water.
Sheriff’s marine unit deputies, who regularly patrol the Chain O’Lakes, arrived quickly and transferred the man to the sheriff’s boat, Covelli said.
The man was not injured.
Boats from the Antioch Fire Department and Fox Lake Fire Protection District were deployed onto the lake, Antioch Fire Department Lt. Francisco Contreras-Gomez said.
Firefighters used water nozzles mounted on the boats to extinguish the blaze.
The boat was then towed to Captain’s Quarters, where firefighters conducted overhaul operations.
Approximately 30 minutes later, the boat caught on fire again, Contreras-Gomez said.
Firefighters doused the boat to ensure the fire was completely extinguished.
No injuries were reported.
Contreras-Gomez said crews drank lots of water throughout the incident to stay hydrated in the sweltering heat.
Firefighters remained on scene before clearing off at around 5:30 p.m.
Covelli highlighted the fast emergency response and coordination from both sheriff’s marine deputies and firefighters.
Covelli said this incident serves as a reminder to the boating public to have life jackets or life vests readily available for each person on board, a legal requirement in Illinois under the Boat Registration and Safety Act (625 ILCS 45).
“This individual was able to quickly grab one and jump in the water to avoid being burned,” Covelli said.
Contreras-Gomez also shared similar sentiments and reminded the public to exercise safe boating practices ahead of the Fourth of July weekend, when the Chain O’Lakes is expected to be very busy.