Five people, including two children, were forced to jump into the water Sunday afternoon after their ski boat burst into flames on the Chain O’ Lakes, according to Lake County authorities.
One of the children aboard the craft suffered burn injuries but they are not believed to be life-threatening, authorities said Monday.
Video of the boat showed the craft completely engulfed in flames.
Fox Lake Fire Protection District Battalion Chief Tom Preidis said the occupants were crossing under the bridge between Nippersink Lake and Pistakee Lake when the boat “suddenly just went up in flames.”
The three adults and two children leapt into the water to avoid the flames.
Preidis said firefighters were able to extinguish the fire by using one of their boats outfitted with a pump that powers a fire hose.
