A personal watercraft burst into flames Thursday afternoon at Lakeside County Park on Soda Bay Road south of Lakeport, California. The cause is still under investigation, according to Kelseyville Fire Protection District Engineer Scott Crawford. The '80s-model SX Kawasaki watercraft's fuel cap was missing, and a rubber band held a plastic zip bag over the opening. The fire started when the rider turned the ignition.

A little-known fact is that The Three Stooges were among America’s first PWC enthusiasts. They are pictured here in a 1930s vintage Duzelburg XZFS2#@*4-HO – one of the first to have an optional hardtop.

Kelseyville resident Gerardo Martinez-Rico said he was test-driving the Kawasaki. He said he had just purchased it from Mike Vonka, who was not at the scene for questioning.

No one was injured.

Three Lake County Sheriff's Office Boat Patrol units and a Kelseyville fire engine responded at approximately 3:30 PM, when a call came in reporting a boat on fire.

Boat Patrol Sgt. Dennis Ostini said "a couple gallons" of gasoline leaked into the lake before responders removed the tank and put it on the shore.

Pointing at the plastic bag covering the tank's opening, Ostini said, "That will cause fires. You need a regular gas cap. That will react with petroleum."

Crawford said with a missing fuel tank cap, "Fuel vapors can get into the engine box and ignite a spark, and that's most likely what happened."

The watercraft's front engine compartment cover was also missing. Responders speculated it had burned in the fire, which charred the back end.