5 boats burn, marina damaged after people set off fireworks on Lake Minnetonka
Boats docked in Brown's Bay on Lake Minnetonka burn Wednesday, July 5, 2023. Authorities say a group was setting off fireworks on the dock before the boats caught fire. (Courtesy of Chad Nelson)
An investigation continues into a fire that damaged five boats and “a large portion” of the dock at Brown’s Bay Marina on Lake Minnetonka early Wednesday morning.
According to the Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office, law enforcement and firefighters first responded to reports of several boats on fire around 1:45 a.m. Surveillance video showed a group of people lighting fireworks on the marina and running away shortly before the fire started.
Law enforcement detained several people, initially taking an 18-year-old into custody on suspicion of criminal damage to property, before releasing him.
Hennepin county says the investigation in ongoing.