Boat catches fire in lake

PORT CLINTON — Two people were flown by medical helicopter Saturday after their boat caught fire on Lake Erie near Port Clinton.Some time before 10:30 a.m., U.S. Coast Guard Station Marblehead got the call about a 26 foot vessel on fire about half a nautical mile from the Portage River. The Ohio Department of Natural Resources, Port Clinton police and fire and the Ohio Naval Militia also responded.Before the Coast Guard arrived, a Good Samaritan took the three people on board the boat to the shore where a medical helicopter picked them up, according to a Station Marblehead Facebook post. What hospital they were taken to and their condition are not known at this time.One of the boat's occupants broke both ankles and two of them suffered burns, according to a Station Marblehead Facebook post. Petty Officer Lauren Steenson, a Coast Guard spokeswoman, said they were transported to the nearest hospital by helicopter.The Coast Guard's Marine Safety Unit from Toledo arrived to take care of pollution from the fire and commercial salvage company was contacted remove the boat. The cause of the fire remains unknown and salvage operations are still underway, Steenson said"Sector Detroit issued an alert about the wreck being a hazard for navigation," Steenson said.*Editor's note: This article has been updated to include information that a third passenger was aboard the boat.Reach reporter Michael Harrington at michaelharrington@sanduskyregister.com, follow the Register at Facebook.com/SanduskyRegisterA boat caught fire just North of the Portage River Saturday in Lake Erie.A boat caught fire just North of the Portage River Saturday in Lake Erie.A boat caught fire just North of the Portage River Saturday in Lake Erie.