Horsetooth Boat Explosion: 1 Passenger Thrown From Boat

The skies of the Horsetooth Reservoir were filled with a cloud of smoke on Saturday (Aug. 8) morning.

A boat that was having mechanical issues ended up starting on fire with an explosion around 8:45 a.m. The exact cause of the explosion is still under investigation.

Poudre Fire Authority said in a report on the incident that one passenger was thrown from the boat during the explosion. The five other passengers jumped into the water and swam to a nearby dock.

One of the patients suffered respiratory burns and was transported to a hospital via helicopter. Three other passengers were taken by UCHealth ambulance. The other two passengers were treated and released on the scene.

PFA got the fire under control at 10:22 a.m.

“It was an impressive example of partnerships across agencies. In total, we had five agencies working together to get patients the care they needed. Plus, it was in a more remote location with limited access,” PFA Battalion Chief and Incident Commander Ross Reinking said in a press release.