Coast Guard: 25 bodies found after California boat fire

Associated Press KGET ^ | Sep 2, 2019 / 10:46 PM PDT | : STEFANIE DAZIO, Associated Press

[sheana]

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. (AP) — A middle-of-the-night fire swept a boat carrying recreational scuba divers anchored near an island off the Southern California coast early Monday, leaving at least 25 dead and nine others missing.

Coast Guard Lt. Cmdr Matthew Kroll said Monday night that 25 people had died. Five of six crew members on the Conception escaped by jumping into an inflatable boat they steered to a nearby vessel.

Rescuers initially recovered four bodies about 90 miles (145 kilometers) northwest of Los Angeles just off Santa Cruz Island, and 16 others were pulled from the water later in the day. The Coast Guard says five others have been found but not recovered due to unsafe conditions under the boat, which sank about 20 yards (18 meters) from shore.

Authorities will search for the nine people still unaccounted for through the night.

“We should all be prepared to move into the worst outcome,” Coast Guard Capt. Monica Rochester said at a news conference.

The four bodies recovered initially had injuries consistent with drowning, Kroll said.

[atc23]

There is no propane on the boat except possibly small Coleman type camp bottles - maybe 2 or 3 of them for the grill on wheels. HVAC is central and all electric. Commercial recreation use vessels are not allowed by law to carry X amount of flammable liquids or gasses aboard. Galley equipment is all electric. Maybe a couple gallons of pump gas for the outboard motors on the chase boat(s) Bacon grease and that type of flammable is dumped over the side after breakfast.

Truth Aquatics is the standard that other boat owners and operators look up to (and envy)

I’m certain the captain and crew did all humanly possible to help save lives.

[atc23]

passengers who apparently were jumping into the water?

Where was this reported? I had not heard this. The four bodies recovered from the water were more likely victims that fell out of the boat from the berthing compartment thru the gaping holes in the side of the hull

[elteemike]

Thanks for the info...IDNK there was no propane in use and that’s why I qualified my comment with “IF”...There was early reported mention of propane in use for a grilling station somewhere onboard...Appreciate the clarification...

Fire appeared to grow so intense so fast, you can see why an accelerant like gas or propane/butane used for heating/cooking, accumulating in below deck spaces and igniting might be a suspected culprit...Hopefully the cause may be determined and steps taken to prevent future events like this one...Why it’s said regulations and codes are written in blood...

Even the most meticulously maintained systems sometimes fail...I’ve been on a lot of dive and fishing boats but never overnight...So tragic for the passengers and crew...