CA - Boat fire near Santa Cruz Island; 34 missing, Sept 2019 *captain charged*

[PommyMommy]

Los Angeles Times on Twitter
Just after 3:30 a.m., the Ventura County Fire Department responded to a boat in distress off Santa Cruz Island. They arrived to find the boat fully engulfed.

7:53 AM - 2 Sep 2019

NPR on Twitter
The Ventura County Fire Department said firefighters responded to calls about flames aboard the dive boat at approximately 3:28 a.m. local time. Santa Cruz Island is about 18 miles from the mainland and about 60 miles west of Los Angeles.

7:59 AM - 2 Sep 2019

John Palminteri on Twitter (Video)
“We threw everything we had at it”— US Coast Guard now says Conception dive boat partially submerged after major morning fire off Santa Cruz Island - 33 unaccounted for. Based in Santa Barbara.
8:03 AM - 2 Sep 2019

KTLA on Twitter
"The five crew members able to disembark because they were in the main cabin. The 34 passengers were below decks," Coast Guard official says. "The report we got was they were trapped by the fire"
8:23 AM - 2 Sep 2019

[URL="https://twitter.com/CBSLA/status/1168547380511137792"]CBS Los Angeles on Twitter[/URL]
#BREAKING UPDATE: Charter dive boat sinks off Santa Cruz Island after massive fire. 5 people rescued, 33 remain missing, according to Coast Guard officials. http://cbsloc.al/2lrmyhJ

8:33 AM - 2 Sep 2019

Gadi Schwartz on Twitter
Tragic news off the coast of Santa Cruz Island... this is video of the 75 ft #Conception burning as nearby boats respond. 5 Crew members rescued. A staggering 34 passengers still unaccounted for. @NBCNews
8:33 AM - 2 Sep 2019 from Oxnard, CA

 

[imstilla.grandma]

Capt. Brian McGrath of the Ventura County Fire Department confirmed some deaths to The Associated Press but said he could not give an exact number.

The fire broke out before dawn aboard the dive boat Conception on the final day of a Labor Day weekend cruise to the Channel Islands.

"At 3:15 this morning the Coast Guard overheard a mayday call. The call was garbled, it was not that clear, but we were able to get some information out of it to send vessels on scene," Barney said.

The Conception was operated by Worldwide Diving Adventures, a respected Santa Barbara-based company that says on its website it has been taking divers on such expeditions since 1972.

The 34 others, who were sleeping below deck, have not been accounted for, Kroll said.

The Conception had departed at 4 a.m. Saturday with plans to return at 5 p.m. Monday.

It was outfitted with dozens of small berths for people to sleep in overnight.
Officials: Dozens feared dead in California dive-boat fire

 

[imstilla.grandma]

I’m afraid some of the missing people may be married couples. IMO.

 

[PommyMommy]

KTLA on Twitter
Update: The dive boat, named Conception, caught fire while anchored off Santa Cruz Island early Monday, per Santa Barbara County Fire Dept. 5 people have been rescued and 34 remained missing, agency says http://on.ktla.com/QZgHq

7:17 AM - 2 Sep 2019

 

[imstilla.grandma]

Worldwide Diving Adventures offered the trip as part of a $665 package that included “scrumptious” meals three times a day, snacks, non-alcoholic beverages, and unlimited air fills for divers.

“The beginning of September is the best time to be at San Mig, which see strong winds and swell during much of the year,” the company boasted on its website. “This rarely visited island is loaded with color: anemones, crabs, nudibranchs covering every inch of wall with a rainbow.”
https://nypost.com/2019/09/02/santa-cruz-boat-fire-vessel-was-on-3-day-diving-excursion/

 

[PommyMommy]

From the USCG, Los Angeles

USCG Los Angeles on Twitter
BREAKING NEWS: The Coast Guard has launched multiple rescue assets along with assets from local agencies to assist more than 30 people in distress on a 75ft boat near Santa Cruz Island. More details will be available later as this operation continues.
3:48 AM - 2 Sep 2019

USCG Los Angeles on Twitter
The vessel was reported as being on fire. The a group of crew members has been rescued (one with minor injuries) and efforts continue to evacuate the remaining passengers.
5:43 AM - 2 Sep 2019

USCG Los Angeles on Twitter
Coast Guard, local agencies continue responding to boat fire near Santa Cruz Island. 5 people rescued by good Samaritan crew.
8:36 AM - 2 Sep 2019

 

[PommyMommy]

[URL="https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/USDHSCG/bulletins/25c8dd9?reqfrom=share"]Coast Guard, local agencies responding to boat fire near Santa Cruz Island[/URL]


Coast Guard, local agencies responding to boat fire near Santa Cruz Island
U.S. Coast Guard sent this bulletin at 09/02/2019 11:22 AM EDT
News Release
U.S. Coast Guard 11th District PA Detachment LA/LB
Contact: Coast Guard PA Detachment LA/LB
Office: (310) 521-4260
After Hours: (310) 781-0619
PA Detachment LA/LB online newsroom

Coast Guard, local agencies responding to boat fire near Santa Cruz Island

SAN PEDRO, Calif – Coast Guard and partner agencies are responding to a vessel fire near Santa Cruz Island Monday.

At approximately 3:15 a.m., Coast Guard Sector Los Angeles-Long Beach watchstanders overheard a mayday call via channel 16 of an engulfed 75-foot commercial diving vessel with 38 people aboard.

Crews from the Coast Guard, Santa Barbara Fire Department, Ventura County Fire Department and Vessel Assist responded. The fire department crews were fighting the fire when the vessel sank 20 yards off shore in 64 feet of water.

Five people were evacuated aboard a good Samaritan pleasure craft Great Escape.

Currently, 33 people aboard the vessel are unaccounted for.

Watchstanders launched two Coast Guard Station Channel Islands Harbor 45-foot Response Boat-Medium crews, a Coast Guard Air Station San Francisco Forward Operating Base Mugu Dolphin MH-65 helicopter crew, a Coast Guard Air Station San Diego MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crew and the Coast Guard Cutter Narwhal.

The vessel currently has a portion of the bow sticking out of the water.

-USCG-

 

[imstilla.grandma]

Fritzler's Truth Aquatics website says the Conception has bunk space for 46 people and "rafts and jackets for 110 passengers."

She said the Coast Guard was still conducting a search and rescue operation hours after the fire. Earlier, Fox affiliate KTTV reported confirming with the Ventura County Fire Department that there were 34 fatalities.
34 people feared dead after boat catches fire off California's Santa Cruz Island: officials

There are fatalities, although the exact number is unknown, Ventura County Fire Capt. Brian McGrath told CBS2. As of 9:30 a.m., the Coast Guard was conducting search and rescue operations to see if any passengers had jumped off the boat or made it to the rocks. There was no word on what may have sparked the blaze.
34 Missing In Charter Boat Fire Off Ventura County Coast; Officials Confirm Fatalities

VCFD PIO (@VCFD_PIO) on Twitter

 

[PommyMommy]

VIDEO: Survivor Brought In To Shore From Boat Fire Off Santa Cruz Island

Thousand Oaks Acorn on Twitter
Coast Guard continuing to search for any survivors from a dive boat that caught fire and went down off the coast of Santa Cruz Island early this morning. Dive group from NorCal was on Labor Day weekend charter offered by Truth Aquatics. 34 missing, many feared dead.
10:01 AM - 2 Sep 2019

Red Cross Central California on Twitter
Our hearts go out to everyone affected by the devastating boat fire in Santa Barbara County. The Red Cross is opening a reunification center at the Veterans Memorial Building in Santa Barbara.
9:53 AM - 2 Sep 2019

Red Cross Central California on Twitter
We have trained mental health and spiritual care volunteers onsite for anyone who needs support. Over the next few days, we will continue to work closely with our partners to best support those affected.
9:53 AM - 2 Sep 2019

Margaret Carrero on Twitter
Hugs at the boat rental company in Santa Barbara where the diving boat that caught fire off the Santa Cruz Islands originates from. @KNX1070

10:10 AM - 2 Sep 2019 from Santa Barbara, CA

[URL="https://twitter.com/Yourreadingnews/status/1168572049905901569"]Your Reading News UK on Twitter[/URL]
#RT @cnnbrk: Five people have been rescued from a dive boat that caught fire near Santa Cruz Island, California, the US Coast Guard says. More than 30 people were on board. Follow live updates: https://cnn.it/2jV5Tm5

10:11 AM - 2 Sep 2019

 

[Inthedetails]

As we await official information, this is an interesting introduction to fire safety on a dive boat:

DAN | Medical Frequently Asked Questions

 

[Inthedetails]

Fritzler's Truth Aquatics website says the Conception has bunk space for 46 people and "rafts and jackets for 110 passengers."

She said the Coast Guard was still conducting a search and rescue operation hours after the fire. Earlier, Fox affiliate KTTV reported confirming with the Ventura County Fire Department that there were 34 fatalities.
34 people feared dead after boat catches fire off California's Santa Cruz Island: officials

There are fatalities, although the exact number is unknown, Ventura County Fire Capt. Brian McGrath told CBS2. As of 9:30 a.m., the Coast Guard was conducting search and rescue operations to see if any passengers had jumped off the boat or made it to the rocks. There was no word on what may have sparked the blaze.
34 Missing In Charter Boat Fire Off Ventura County Coast; Officials Confirm Fatalities

VCFD PIO (@VCFD_PIO) on Twitter

From what I'm reading about dive boats, it should be very clear who was on the boat. They keep good records because the crew needs to keep track of divers in the water and make sure all divers who go in the water come back out of the water. So it won't be a guessing game on who was registered with the company to take the trip.

Source of my info: wikipedia link posted upthread

 

[imstilla.grandma]

Firefighters had difficulties snuffing out the fire, Bemis said, because each time it was extinguished, it flared back up -- perhaps because of the fuel on board.

"The Conception burned down to the water line," said Santa Barbara County Fire Department spokesman Mike Eliason.

"We're still holding hope that someone may have swum to shore," Eliason told CNN. "When they anchor overnight, they're pretty close to shore. We have to hope, but we plan for worst-case scenario."

James Kohls was in Oxnard waiting to learn the fate of his brother, Mike Kohls, the gallery cook and a deckhand on the Conception. At 4 a.m., his brother, a lifelong surfer and father of one daughter, is typically making breakfast for the passengers, James Kohls said.

"It's very surreal at the moment," he told reporters. "They were going to let me know whether he was one of the survivors that got off."
Passengers killed and missing in California dive boat fire, officials say - CNN

 

[PommyMommy]

John Palminteri on Twitter
Assisting and coordinating – – Santa Barbara City Fire Battalion Chief Mike De Ponce says they are working side-by-side with federal and regional officials on the tragic Conception dive boat fire off Santa Cruz Island.

10:15 AM - 2 Sep 2019

Robin Abcarian on Twitter
LA Times is looking for a boat owner to take journalists to the Santa Cruz Island fire site
10:22 AM - 2 Sep 2019

Jose A. Del Real on Twitter
34 people are missing after a boat caught fire and sank very early this morning off the coast of Santa Cruz Island in SoCal. Passengers were believed to be asleep below deck. The boat’s 5 crew members, who were awake, made it off.
10:27 AM - 2 Sep 2019

 

[mickey2942]

Live updates: Boat fire near Santa Cruz Island, California - CNN

Only the crew members were able to escape from the boat. This is why I have little interest in cruises.

 

[neesaki]

So horrific, I wonder how the fire started.

 

[imstilla.grandma]

The National Transportation Safety Board is sending a team out to investigate.
34 Missing In Charter Boat Fire Off Ventura County Coast; Officials Confirm Fatalities

 

[Inthedetails]

So horrific, I wonder how the fire started.

Seems like an explosion to me. But I'm NOT a fire expert by any means at all. Just seems like the flames happened so fast that not even one person was able to get out.

Speculation only.

jmo

 

[PommyMommy]

Anabel Muñoz on Twitter (Video)
On our way to site of boat fire near Santa Cruz Island. We’re taking off from Oxnard and we’re about two hours away. Here’s what we know:
- five crew members were rescued after jumping into water
- 34 people are unaccounted for
- They were on a diving excursion
@ABC7
10:33 AM - 2 Sep 2019 from USCG Station Channel Islands

Alyssa Jeong Perry on Twitter
I'm at the Coast Guard harbor in Oxnard awaiting any updates to the Boat Fire near Santa Cruz Island @KPCC @NPR

10:40 AM - 2 Sep 2019

 

[imstilla.grandma]

Ventura County officials "fear numerous fatalities" as rescue operations are underway for a boat on fire near Santa Cruz Island, California, Monday morning, public information officer Bill Nash told ABC News.
34 people missing after fire on boat, officials 'fear numerous fatalities'

 

[neesaki]

Seems like an explosion to me. But I'm NOT a fire expert by any means at all. Just seems like the flames happened so fast that not even one person was able to get out.

Speculation only.

jmo

Does anyone know if boats like this have smoke detectors? It seems there would be and if so the alarms would have gone off. I think you could be right about it being an explosion. How awful, all those people.