JOHNSTON, Iowa – Officials with the Iowa DNR said Tuesday (today), that at approximately 4:45-p.m. on Monday, May 25th, DNR conservation officers responded to a boat explosion on Saylorville Lake.  Upon initial investigation, it was determined that an accumulation of gas fumes in the engine compartment of the boat ignited when the boat was started.

At the time of the explosion, there were eight passengers on board, including the operator and owner of the boat, Michael Jenkins, of Ames. Two passengers were treated and released at the scene with minor burns and one passenger was transported to UnityPoint’s Iowa Methodist Medical Center with more serious burns.  Investigators do not believe alcohol was a factor in this incident.

The DNR reminds boat operators with inboard motors to run the blower system before starting a boat to prevent this type of incident from happening.