Towboat fire on Kentucky Lake brings massive emergency response

A towboat fire on Kentucky Lake brought out a massive response from area first responders on Tuesday.

The fire broke out about 6:45 a.m. on the boat on the Livingston County side of the lake near the locks at Kentucky Dam. 

Kenny Pratt with the Marshall County Rescue Squad told West Kentucky Star that the blaze began in the boat's engine room and spread through the interior. The interior of the towboat suffered heavy damage. 

Fire crews were on the scene for several hours. The United States Coast Guard will conduct an investigation on the cause of the fire.

Agencies responding to put out the fire and deal with cleanup and recovery included the Marshall County Rescue Squad, East Marshall Fire Department, South Marshall Fire Department, Livingston County Fire Department, Grand Lakes Fire Department, Burna Fire Department, Ledbetter Fire Department, Livingston County's Director of Emergency Management, Calloway County Fire and Rescue, E3 Environmental, Kentucky EPA, and Livingston County EMS.







Photos courtesy of Kenny Pratt, Marshall County Rescue Squad