Neighbors say six boaters lucky to be alive after boat explodes and catches fire on Candlewood Lake
One person was taken to the hospital with a minor burn injury. A second person was also taken to the hospital to be evaluated.
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Neighbors say six people, including two children, on a boat are lucky to be alive after the boat exploded and was engulfed in flames.
It happened Monday afternoon on Candlewood Lake in Danbury.
The CT DEEP Environmental Conservation Police said two children who were on the boat were taken to the hospital, one with a minor burn injury and the other was being evaluated.
People who live nearby felt the explosion.
"We heard a boom and we felt it," said Tony Buonaiuto of Danbury.
Buonaiuto lives about 500 feet from where the boat exploded. He gave us pictures his wife took.
"We ran down here and there's this boat on fire. It was crazy," Buonaiuto said.
He says Monday afternoon he saw the boat in the middle of Candlewood Lake on fire, and says it drifted to the dock while still burning.
Danbury Fire says all six people on board jumped off and were rescued. Crews were able to put out the fire pretty quickly.
Still no word on what caused the fire.
"The motor's in a compartment and there's a cover, like a sun tan deck or whatever, and if you don't turn the blower on to exhaust the fumes that are in that compartment, then when you turn the key the ignition sparks everything and the explosion starts. Thank God nobody got hurt," Buonaiuto said.
There were no reports of any damage to the docks or any other boats nearby.
The Danbury Fire Marshal is investigating.
