Boat explosion on Conn. lake injures 6, including 2 children

Six people escaped into the water after a boat caught fire on Candlewood Lake in Danbury

May 27, 2026 09:40 AM

By Justin Muszynski
Hartford Courant

DANBURY, Conn. — Two children were among several people who were injured during a boat explosion on Candlewood Lake on Memorial Day.

Emergency crews responded to a portion of the lake in Danbury on the report of a boat fire around 4 p.m., according to a spokesperson for the state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection.

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Six people aboard the boat evacuated and were pulled from the water, DEEP said. They suffered minor injuries. This included two children who were taken to a hospital for non-life-threatening injuries, according to DEEP.

The fire aboard the boat was put out by firefighters with the Danbury Fire Department.

According to the fire department, the explosion is being investigated by the Danbury Fire Marshal’s Office.

A DEEP spokesperson said EnCon Police are also investigating.

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