MIPD Marine Patrol unit responds to boat fire

Published 9:30 am Monday, July 13, 2026

Mercer Island Police Department’s Marine Patrol unit responded to a non-injury boat fire on south Lake Washington between the Island and Seattle on the evening of July 11.

The local unit was dispatched to the scene of an approximately 18-foot recreational runabout fully engulfed in flames at about 6 p.m., according to a press release. Working in tandem, MI officers and Seattle Harbor units used lake water to extinguish the blaze as the vessel took on water and ultimately sank.

“All occupants safely evacuated the vessel prior to the arrival of emergency responders,” reads the press release, adding that the cause of the fire remains under investigation.

“Mercer Island Police Department reminds all boaters to ensure their vessels are properly maintained, carry the required safety equipment, and report emergencies immediately by calling 911 or hailing emergency responders on the appropriate marine radio channel,” police said.