Fireboat on Lake St. Clair saves Harrison Township man’s life
He had just picked up the boat from the mechanic and was getting ready to bring it home when the fire started. This long-time boater is glad to be alive and able to tell his story.
HARRISON TWP., Mich. (FOX 2) – A cell phone video shows how the boat ride home on Lake St. Clair took a dangerous turn on Tuesday.
One day after watching his boat go up in smoke, Bill Frohreip JR. sat with us and told us about his experiences.
“I drive for a few minutes,” he said. “The next thing I know, I hear these alarms going off. I thought I’d check it out. I open the engine compartment and smoke is coming out.”
“Then I heard the boys start screaming: ‘You’re burning.'”
Frohreip says he grabbed his life jacket and radioed for help as nearby boaters rushed to his boat.
One photo shows storm clouds gathering over the river at the time of the rescue operation.
“The smoke really bothered me, I was disorientated,” said Frohreip. “I got to the bow. I jumped in and they put me in their donzi (boat).”
Lieutenant Gary Wiegand is assigned to the Macomb County Sheriff’s Office Marine Division.
“From this vantage point you could see the boat and the black cloud of smoke,” said Lieutenant Wiegand.
He says the rescue team put out the fire within 30 minutes. The boat is a total loss.
Wiegand said Frohreip did the right thing in this extremely important emergency situation.
“He knew where the life jackets were on his boat,” he said. “He immediately put on a life jacket. He went to his ship-to-shore radio and called for help.”
“When he realized the fire was too big to stay on the ship, he did the right thing and left the boat.”
Frohreip became emotional when he talked about his family.
“I feel good. I have a wonderful family that supports me,” he said.
He had just picked up the boat from the mechanic and was on his way home when the fire broke out.
This long-time boater is happy to be alive and able to tell his story.
“I don’t know if I’ve realized all of this yet,” he said. “I just felt like I wanted to give back. A few years ago, a jet ski sank and I happened to be riding in it. My family and friends were on board and we were enjoying our day. I decided to turn around and I’m glad I did and we got him out.”
Frohreip says he is grateful to the boaters who helped him. He also says a lifetime of boating lessons saved his life.
Now he has to talk to his insurance company. The cause of the fire is being investigated.
