UPDTE: 7:10 AM: The US Coast Guard and Ventura County firefighters have responded to a fire that broke out on board the Santa Barbara-bsaed boat “Conception” on the north side of Santa Cruz Island around 3:30 Labor Day morning.
In morning tweets, the Coast Guard reported “multiple assets” sent to the boat, used by divers who explore in the ocean waters of the Santa Barbara Channel. Ventura County Fire tweeted photos that show the boat fully involved. A Coast Guard tweet reported a minor injury among a crew member of the vessel.
UPDATE: The owner of a Santa Barbara based diving boat has arrived to brief Coast Guard officials at the Channel Islands Harbor. “Conception” is a 75-foot vessel frequently used by divers who explore the waters in the Santa Barbara Channel.
The owner, Glen Fritzler was not able to provide many details as he arrived at the Coast Guard facility Monday morning. His boat is well known among members of the Santa Barbara harbor community.
More details as they become available.
ORIGINAL STORY:
According to KTLA’s website, the Ventura County Fire Department has confirmed fatalities in a boat incident off Santa Cruz Island on Labor Day morning.
Around 4.a.m, the U.S. Coast Guard launched a rescue to help more than 30 people in distress on a boat near Santa Cruz Island.
Check back here for updates.
https://www.keyt.com/news/possible-fatalities-in-boat-incident-near-santa-cruz-island/1116129953
I’ve done multi-day dive trips aboard both the Truth and the Conception. Very sad. They run a good operation. From Port Hueneme (sp?) as I recall.