Boat explodes in marina

Photo: Chantelle Deacon

UPDATE 4:05 p.m.

The Skaha Lake Marina says the employee of Penticton Parasail that was on the boat when it exploded into flames has now been released from hospital, "and will be OK."

In a Facebook post, the marina thanked the emergency responders for their quick response.

"We are closed for the remainder of the day, but will be open tomorrow for regular business," the post reads.

UPDATE: 12:30 p.m.

There was a loud "explosion," when a parasailing boat was taken over by flames at Skaha Lake Marina Tuesday morning, says Brandon Skinner, a bystander. 

Penticton Fire Department arrived shortly after 11:00 a.m., to find a boat completely engulfed in flames. Many people on the beach "heard a large bang and there was a big fireball," according to fire captain Rae Simpson.

"They were about to go out working. They fired up the engine and they tried to move it and then there was an explosion," he said. "There was one male on the boat at the time of the explosion who is being treated for minor injuries."  

The victim was being treated by B.C. Ambulance at the scene.

The boat is "pretty much" destroyed and the flames slightly burned the side of a pontoon boat parked next to it.  

The cause of the fire is still under investigation. 

A parasailing boat at the Skaha Lake Marina in Penticton burst into flames Tuesday morning.

Fire crews were called to the marina around 11 a.m., arriving to find the boat fully engulfed.

Firefighters made quick work of the blaze, knocking it down and keeping it contained to the single boat. An adjacent pontoon boat sustained some minor damage due to the flames. 

No word yet on the cause of the fire.

Castanet will update as more information becomes available.