Horrifying new details emerge from dive boat crewmen...

Daily Mail UK ^ | 09/05/2019 | Lauren Fruen

[Ol' Dan Tucker]

• Surviving crew were driven back by the fire off the coast of Southern California
• They are said to have told investigators in 'very lengthy, detailed, comprehensive interviews' the harrowing story of the moments after the fire erupted Monday
• Jumping from the ship's bridge to its main deck, they tried to get into the galley
• With the galley's doors on fire, they tried to get through windows but could not
• 'At that point, due to heat, flames and smoke, the crew had to jump', officials say
• Two retrieved a skiff to see if they could rescue any survivors. None were found
• The only crew member to die was Allie Kurtz, 26, who had quit her corporate job
• Captain reportedly made two mayday calls and 'was the last to leave the boat'
• The harrowing details were revealed as the owners filed a petition asking a judge not to order any payouts to the victims' families

[shotgun]

The dive company owns an identical twin dive boat that will be used to check the hatches and escape routes. I’ve seen pictures on the LA Times of investigators already reviewing that other boat.

[doorgunner69]

“Locked” or “blocked”? Could have been either.

[Ol' Dan Tucker]

If I owned a boat no one with a battery would be allowed onboard without one of those bags. 33 people, all with cellphones and cameras...hindsight is always 20-20 and we don’t really know if this was the cause, but now we know it could be the cause.

I started using hobby-grade LIPOs back around 2000 or so. None of these battery packs had the protection circuit. This technology was so new that none of us knew the dangers of unbalanced packs.

Many people lost their homes, garages and cars when they put their LIPOs onto charge, then walked away, went out to dinner, etc.

After seeing results of these fires (lithium smoke is also caustic in addition to being toxic) it became standard practice to either set a watch on the batteries while charging, or charge them outdoors in a safe area, or use a charger bag.

I used to charge my LIPOs in my fireplace. First, I could watch the batteries charge while watching TV. Second and third, the fireplace is designed to contain extreme heat and vent toxic smoke and fumes safely out of the house.

Most people today don't give battery charging a second thought, nor do they understand the dangers of packs without the protection circuit. (cheap chicom knock-offs)

I'm sure that many commercial operators will now insist on everyone using bags or that charging will be done out on deck.

[bunkerhill7]

Robert Wagoner done did it.

[Flaming Conservative]

Thank you very much!

[Flaming Conservative]

Thank you!

[Flaming Conservative]

How, then, can they be safely stored?

[Hot Tabasco]

Interesting that they’ve been unable to recover and identify just ONE person.

Not interesting at all, they've recovered at least 23 bodies so far. Why hasn't at least ONE person been identified? Because they were all just incinerated in a fiberglass box, beyond all recognition. The only way they can be identified is via DNA testing.........

[GOPJ]

I wonder if they all had the exact same story...

[Raebie]

Lithium batteries. I was just about to post that.

[Hebrews 11:6]

Agreed.

[Ol' Dan Tucker]

I wonder if they all had the exact same story...

We'll find out in the coming days and weeks.

[nikos1121]

Hey, I think I saw where someone is surmising arson, suicide homicide etc.

do we have any idea where exactly the fire started? It was in the lower decks where the bunks were, right?

No reported shouts or noises. Makes you wonder if there was a leak of some kind that killed everyone in their sleep, and it ignited. Flash fire.

I bet none of the divers died from drowning. None tried to escape? I’m thinking they died from CO poisoning or other gas.

[nikos1121]

No

[nikos1121]

I think he was saying “blocked” not “locked”

[Yaelle]

On any ship getting out when the whole top deck is on fire would prove extremely difficult.

[Trump Girl Kit Cat]

I am betting on charging lithium battery brought on by one of the divers, I had one of those damn things catch fire on my kitchen table charging in a power strip scared the crap out of me, I have a fire extinguisher in my kitchen HOWEVER if I had not been home or in the back of the house who knows!! I now charge ALL lithium batteries OUTSIDE in the backyard at least 5 ft. from outside walls!!! When charging my iPad the charging plug gets EXTREMELY HOT, I am getting that it was a faulty lithium battery from someone’s camera or other device!!! VERY, VERY, SAD all around!!! This vessel was built long before we had lithium batteries charging every damn thing we touch!!!

[Patriot Babe]

Same here and I pray that they died in their sleep due to smoke inhalation before being burned.

[atc23]

'I think now people will pay a lot more attention,' she said.

I hope they do. Usually about half the passengers just tune you out when you're giving the safety brief. When I worked these boats, I was considered grumpy and mean due to having a Navy, no bs attitude while on a vessel at sea. No horseplay, no running, stow your sh!t and make a hole.

[Patriot Babe]

The Asian man who is pictured on the left top corner perished along with his beautiful daughter who pictured with her hair flowing up in the wind and a beautiful smile that indicates she was full of life. May they all RIP.