The pontoon boat on Fountain Lake that burned Wednesday around midnight turned out to be owned by Albert Lea Fire Chief Richard Sydnes.

Thursday, September 20, 2001

The pontoon boat on Fountain Lake that burned Wednesday around midnight turned out to be owned by Albert Lea Fire Chief Richard Sydnes. The fire department and the police determined the cause as arson, and are investigating.

According to the fire department, the fire started in the center of the deck. The 11-passenger pontoon had about 20 gallons of fuel in its tank. The investigators think the suspect used either the fuel from the tank or other accelerants to start the fire.

Chief Sydnes bought the pontoon last year for water recreation. The boat was not used after the summer, Sydnes said.

A passerby found the pontoon moored at dock 277 on Lake Shore Drive near Channel Road was on fire and called 911. The blaze destroyed entire deck surface.