Piloting a powerful boat among a throng of bass boats at daylight at the start of a bass tournament is a danger that anglers accept. Selma fisherman Rickie Knight never dreamed the real danger might come from just backing his boat down the ramp on a practice day.

The 40-year veteran of bass tournament fishing was launching his bass boat on Miller’s Ferry on the Alabama River last weekend when it exploded and burst in flames. The fire burned until firefighters arrived and intensified as they sprayed water on the fire. The fire was finally put out when they punched holes in the side of the boat and drowned the fire.

Knight’s fishing buddy that day, Chris Henry, was in the driver’s seat when the explosion occurred. He dove out of the boat onto the concrete and escaped with only a twisted ankle.

Knight’s $67,000 bass boat was a total loss.

What caused the explosion and fire? The culprit was traced to the boat’s lithium batteries, Knight says.