FD: 3 people injured in Lake Pleasant boat explosion

LAKE PLEASANT - Three people remain hospitalized at a burn center in Phoenix after an explosion rocked their boat on Lake Pleasant.

Peoria Fire Department Battalion Chief Tom Pendley says five adults launched the boat at the lake north of Phoenix Sunday morning and were motoring out of the ramp area when the explosion happened.

"We heard a big explosion," said Heber Arechiga.  "We heard screaming and pieces flying up in the air from the boat."

Two women and a man suffered second-degree flash burns and injuries from flying debris. Nearby boaters helped them back to the dock and called for help.

Pendley says the burns were serious but did not appear life-threatening. They were flown to the burn center at Maricopa Medical Center for treatment.

"We always take burns very seriously," said Pendley.  "There'a s lot of potential complications."

One of the other two boaters had minor injuries and the second was unhurt.

The explosion was apparently caused by fuel vapors accumulating in the engine compartment.

"It could happen to anybody," said Arechiga.  "Scary thing."