Two people have been rescued after their boat caught fire on Oneida Lake near Frenchman Island on Tuesday afternoon, according to the Onondaga County Sheriff's Office.
18-year-old Maddy Allen and her cousin, 19-year-old Jacob Harrig, reached the two boaters before any rescue crews could reach the burning boat.
The two teenagers were riding their WaveRunner when they saw the black smoke. At first, they thought it was a house fire. When they realized the boat was on fire, Allen and Harrig zipped closer to the boat to offer help.
"When we got closer to the boat, that's when the couple actually jumped into the water, and they saw us and started screaming for help," Allen says.
Allen and Harrig felt a bit helpless since they did not have a craft big enough to carry the people. But, they knew they could at least attempt to get the two passengers away from the boat. The current also helped, as it pushed the boat away from them.
"The couple came over and started to climb on, and eventually, a fisherman boat came over and helped us out," Allen says.
The passengers on the burning boat were wearing life jackets when they jumped into the water. But, Allen says the couple looked shocked, and so was she.
"We've been coming up here for years obviously to visit my grandpa. I've never seen a boat on fire, and I was kinda scared. I felt bad, so we just had to go over and make sure everyone was okay," Allen says.
Allen says it wasn't a hard decision for her and Harrig to help out.
"Well I know if I was in that situation, I would definitely want someone to come over and help us," Allen says.
No injuries have been reported yet. The investigation is ongoing.
This story is developing and will be updated.
18-year-old Maddy Allen and her cousin, 19-year-old Jacob Harrig, reached the two boaters before any rescue crews could reach the burning boat.
The two teenagers were riding their WaveRunner when they saw the black smoke. At first, they thought it was a house fire. When they realized the boat was on fire, Allen and Harrig zipped closer to the boat to offer help.
"When we got closer to the boat, that's when the couple actually jumped into the water, and they saw us and started screaming for help," Allen says.
Allen and Harrig felt a bit helpless since they did not have a craft big enough to carry the people. But, they knew they could at least attempt to get the two passengers away from the boat. The current also helped, as it pushed the boat away from them.
"The couple came over and started to climb on, and eventually, a fisherman boat came over and helped us out," Allen says.
The passengers on the burning boat were wearing life jackets when they jumped into the water. But, Allen says the couple looked shocked, and so was she.
"We've been coming up here for years obviously to visit my grandpa. I've never seen a boat on fire, and I was kinda scared. I felt bad, so we just had to go over and make sure everyone was okay," Allen says.
Allen says it wasn't a hard decision for her and Harrig to help out.
"Well I know if I was in that situation, I would definitely want someone to come over and help us," Allen says.
No injuries have been reported yet. The investigation is ongoing.
This story is developing and will be updated.
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