Officials: Couple, dog leap from burning boat in Mississippi reservoir to escape flames

A couple and their dog narrowly escaped a boat fire at the Barnett Reservoir on Wednesday, April 17, thanks to the swift actions of nearby fishermen and Reservoir firefighters.

Posts on social media show thick black smoke billowing up into the skies above the reservoir.

The incident reported around 1:15 p.m., prompted an immediate response from authorities.

WJTV in Jackson reports that Reservoir Fire Department officials said the couple and their canine companion managed to leap into the water as flames engulfed their boat. Fortunately, fishermen in the vicinity quickly came to their aid, rescuing them from the perilous situation.

Reservoir police towed the burning vessel to Rankin landing near Shaggy’s, where firefighters battled the blaze using approximately 7,000 gallons of water and foam over the course of two hours. The primary fuel source, around 100 gallons of fuel onboard, exacerbated the intensity of the fire.

The Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ) was summoned to address the environmental impact of the incident, particularly the fuel that seeped into the reservoir. Thankfully, no injuries were reported in connection with the fire, marking a fortunate outcome amid the dramatic events at the reservoir.