Boat Fire Causes Sinking Ship with No Survivors

A 50-foot vessel caught fire off the coast of Carlsbad, California on Thursday July 15^th, as the U.S. Coast Guard reports that it had been on the scene to provide assistance.

At approximately 9:00 a.m. local time, multiple reports of a boat on fire were received by the San Diego Coast Guard Sector.

A Coast Guard helicopter crew, operating an MH-60 Jayhawk, was dispatched and the Coast Guard Cutters Munro, Benjamin Bottoms, and Haddock were diverted to the site.

“The Harbor Master saw the boat leave the Oceanside Harbor heading towards Carlsbad Thursday morning and stated that the owner lived aboard the boat and was presumed to have been alone.”, the U.S. Coast Guard stated.

Upon arriving on the site, the Coast Guard cutters coordinated to put out the blaze as the Jayhawk chopper crew looked for possible survivors. The boat experienced considerable damage and ultimately sank to the bottom of the waters at a depth of around 1,800 feet.

After more than six hours of additional searching over an extensive area, the Jayhawk helicopter team found no evidence of survivors.