On Thursday (3/24) at approximately 12:15 PM, Deputies with the Mohave County Sheriff’s Office Division of Boating Safety and Dive Rescue and Recovery Team were actively on patrol in the area of The Lake Havasu State Park on Lake Havasu when they observed an extremely large cloud of black smoke in the middle of the North Basin. As Deputies were responding, several other boaters flagged down Deputies and advised that a large boat was possibly on fire in the middle of the lake.

Upon Deputies arrival, it was determined that the thick smoke was coming from the Tecopa Ferry, a 60 foot double decker passenger Ferry which had 81 people on board. Deputies immediately boarded the boat, and began communications with the Captain and Crew of the watercraft. The crew was able to determine that a mechanical failure is what was causing the thick smoke, and they were able to shut the watercraft down prior to there being an active fire.

Deputies stood by with the disabled passenger ferry, while assisting passengers and providing water to those in need. A tow company arrived on scene, and towed the watercraft back to safe harbor. There were no injuries sustained in this incident. The United State Coast Guard was notified and is investigating further.

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