The Emergency Management director for Mason County has been seriously injured after a boat he was on exploded.

It happened on the Ohio River near Aberdeen, Ohio. That's just across the river from Maysville.

Jack Fultz had done it many times before, put his houseboat in the water for the season. His friend says Wednesday, Fultz successfully started one engine and then when to check on another when it exploded.

Another man, Joe Brewer, was able to jump from the boat into the water, but Fultz, an experienced boater and retired Maysville firefighter was badly burned.

It took firefighters nearly an hour to put the flames out and small sporadic explosions were visible. It's still unclear what caused the explosion

Fultz remains at the University of Cincinnati Hospital.