Three children and an adult suffered serious burns in a boating accident near the Chautauqua Marina on Wednesday. All four were taken by helicopter to nearby hospitals. P-J photos by William Mohan

MAYVILLE — Four people, including three children, were airlifted to the hospital after suffering burns in a boating accident Wednesday.

The incident near the Chautauqua Marina on West Lake Road in Mayville occurred around 5:20 p.m.

Chautauqua County Sheriff Jim Quattrone said it appear the boat had just been fueled and was pulling away from the dock when there was “an explosion of some type.”

A man and three children suffered serious injuries in the accident, Quattrone told The Post-Journal. The three children, whose ages weren’t immediately known, were airlifted to Oishei Children’s Hospital in Buffalo.

Firefighters were first alerted to multiple burn victims at the marina. Once on scene, fire officials quickly asked for two helicopters to be landed at the nearby Lakeside Park. Two additional helicopters were later summoned.

Three children and an adult suffered serious burns in a boating accident near the Chautauqua Marina on Wednesday. All four were taken by helicopter to nearby hospitals. P-J photos by William Mohan

The boat involved leaked “a large amount of gasoline,” county dispatch said, prompting a response from the Chautauqua County Hazmat Team.