Fireworks Set Stolen Boat Ablaze

Three Spokane residents were arrested early Monday after fireworks they fired from a boat on Spirit Lake set the stolen vessel on fire, sheriff’s deputies said.

Kootenai County sheriff’s deputies booked Matthew J. Portfield, 25, into jail on one charge each of grand theft and burglary. Two teenagers - ages 17 and 14 - also were arrested on theft and burglary charges. They were released to their parents.

Deputies said the trio had stolen the boat and were shooting fireworks from it near Lake Haven Resort. An errant bottle rocket ignited some gas on the 16-foot Kenzie Kraft.

All three dove into the water to escape the fire and swam to the shore where deputies found them hiding.

The boat burned to the waterline, deputies said. , DataTimes