Boat Goes Up in Flames Along Illinois River
By: Eugene Daniel
Updated: July 3, 2012
PEORIA- Two passengers are lucky to be unharmed after their boat caught fire along the Illinois River.
It happened around 8:40 p.m. Tuesday night across Peoria's Riverplex. Peoria firefighters say they believe the fire started because of a mechanical failure when the boat's engine backfired.
Only two people were on the boat and both jumped out to escape the flames. Both passengers were rescued by the coast guard. Firefighters were able to put out the flames and no was hurt.
"As soon as we parked the car, we just started walking over here right away. By the time we got here, it was pretty inflamed. I mean, it was big flames," said witness Jesse Escobedo.
Witnesses say they could see the flames from miles away. Some described it as a huge fireball.
It happened around 8:40 p.m. Tuesday night across Peoria's Riverplex. Peoria firefighters say they believe the fire started because of a mechanical failure when the boat's engine backfired.
Only two people were on the boat and both jumped out to escape the flames. Both passengers were rescued by the coast guard. Firefighters were able to put out the flames and no was hurt.
"As soon as we parked the car, we just started walking over here right away. By the time we got here, it was pretty inflamed. I mean, it was big flames," said witness Jesse Escobedo.
Witnesses say they could see the flames from miles away. Some described it as a huge fireball.
