🔥”Lake Powell’s Houseboat BBQ: Unexpected Fiery Show Wows Onlookers”🔥

TL;DR: A lakeside BBQ escalated dramatically when several houseboats at Lake Powell on the Utah-Arizona border spontaneously burst into flames. No injuries were reported, and the cause is under investigation. Don’t worry, your summer plans are still a go, folks! 😎🌊

As if Lake Powell, the popular jet-skiing and houseboat haven on the Utah-Arizona line, needed any more heat this summer. Last Friday, the lake’s own version of ‘Fourth of July fireworks’ took place a month early. Seven houseboats transformed into waterfront firecrackers, bursting into flames and providing an unscheduled spectacle for the tourists and jet skiers chilling out on the water. The fire raged for about 90 minutes, with all hands on deck (literally!) trying to douse the inferno. 🔥⛴️💦

A certain Robert Wilkes, who happens to be the owner of Skylite Houseboat Management and a trained firefighter (convenient, eh?), was on the scene quicker than you can say ‘flaming jet ski.’ He battled the blaze with a garden hose, earning him the unofficial title of ‘Lake Powell Firefighter of the Year’. Talk about being at the right place at the right time! 😅👨‍🚒🚒

Now, if you’re wondering if your houseboat holiday is going up in smoke, fear not. The fire was contained and extinguished by Friday evening, according to Lisa Cesaro, a spokesperson with Aramark Destinations, which maintains the marina. So, your sun-soaked, water-splashed, fun-filled vacation is still on the cards. Phew! 😰🌅⛱️

Here’s the hot question though – what caused this fiery display? The cause is still under investigation, with the National Park Service holding their cards close to their chest. What we do know is that over two million visitors flock to Lake Powell annually for some high-speed fun on the water. Are there safety checks in place for these boats? Are these incidents preventable? 🤔🔍💼

Wilkes, our local firefighting hero, reported no injuries and a loss of one of his management company’s boats in the blaze. As they say, “no pain, no gain,” right, Wilkes? And if we look back, this isn’t the first fire show Lake Powell has hosted. Park rangers have responded to houseboat fires in 2022, 2015, and 2011. So, is Lake Powell becoming the unofficial hotspot for burning boats, or is this just a series of unfortunate events? 👀📆🔥

Let’s leave you with a sizzling thought – if you were on a vacation and saw a houseboat turning into a floating torch, would you grab a bucket to help or whip out your phone for the ‘Gram? Let’s get this fiery debate rolling in the comments below. 🔥🚤🤳