LAKE POWELL – For 18 years, Summer Paradise has been a getaway for the Mills family, but their annual trip to Lake Powell took an unexpected turn when Wendy Mills got an update on her phone about an explosion on a houseboat.
The blast aboard “Summer Paradise” killed 52-year-old Kirsten Meyer of Castle Rock, Colorado and critically injured four others.
“We were planning on going this Sunday,” Mills said. “We had it all planned out. We had all the food, and everything is packed already.”
Mills didn’t know it was their boat until she talked to her husband.
“He said that houseboat that blew up was ours, and I said ‘You’re kidding, right?’ and he said, ‘No, it was our houseboat, the president of the boat just called,’” Mills recalled.
The boat was anchored in Crystal Springs Canyon near the Bull Frog Marina. The San Juan County Sheriff’s Office says about two dozen people were on the boat at the time.
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Story by KIERSTEN NUNEZ, Fox13Now.com
Copyright © 2017, KSTU. A Tribune broadcasting station
We have to remember fuel fumes gather in the hull. I always run my blowers several minutes before cranking over the engine. I even open the engine cowling up to let more air in. I do not know the specifics of this incident if proper ventilation was done prior to starting. Former USCG.