(Spirit Lake)– Three juveniles were injured Monday afternoon in an incident at Camp Foster on East Lake Okoboji.
Authorities say a camp employee, 20-year-old Neil Carroll of Carroll, was trying to start a boat when there was flash fire. Three teens in the boat sustained burns to their legs. All three were taken by ambulance to Lakes Regional Healthcare. 14-year-old Emmy Rush of Minneapolis and 13-year-old Amelia Ambrose of Omaha were treated and released 14-year-old Maddie Dineen of Omaha was held for observation. All three were campers at Camp Foster.
Carroll and another camp employee, 22-year-old Jackie Ryan of Dundee were taken to Lakes Regional Healthcare for observation.
Camp Foster YMCA lifeguards and the Camp Nurse provided immediate first aid on the scene.
Officials say the blast was the result of a problem with the boat’s ventilation system. DNR spokesman Jeff Morrison says the boat’s blower was working at the time and that the vessel had been used earlier in the day without incident. He says the group was heading out onto the lake to ski when the incident took place around 2:50 p.m. The force of the blast flew the engine cover and two rear seats into the water.
Carroll was able to quickly extinguish the fire with an onboard fire extinguisher.
Brian Petersen, Executive Director of Camp Foster YMCA, says a preliminary investigation by the DNR indicates proper boating procedures were followed.
The Dickinson County Sheriff’s Office, Iowa Department of Natural Resources, Lakes Regional Healthcare Ambulances and paramedics, Spirit Lake Fire Department and the Arnolds Park/Okoboji Fire and Rescue Boat assisted on the scene.
