Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

34 people feared dead after boat catches fire off California's Santa Cruz Island: officials
Fox News ^ | September 2, 2019 | Robert Gearty

Posted on 09/02/2019 8:51:41 AM PDT by Zhang Fei

At least 34 people were feared dead after a boat caught fire off Santa Cruz Island, California, early Monday morning, officials have confirmed.

Fox affiliate KTTV earlier confirmed there were nearly three dozen fatalities, but Coast Guard Lt. Cmdr Matthew Kroll told Fox News the 34 people were unaccounted for from a commercial diving ship. The captain of the boat was helping with the rescue. Four other people were rescued. Lt. Cmdr Kroll later confirmed the ship sunk near the north shore of Santa Cruz Island after taking on water.

At least 34 people were feared dead after a boat caught fire off Santa Cruz Island, California, early Monday morning, officials have confirmed.

Fox affiliate KTTV earlier confirmed there were nearly three dozen fatalities, but Coast Guard Lt. Cmdr Matthew Kroll told Fox News the 34 people were unaccounted for from a commercial diving ship. The captain of the boat was helping with the rescue. Four other people were rescued. Lt. Cmdr Kroll later confirmed the ship sunk near the north shore of Santa Cruz Island after taking on water.

"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," Coast Guard LA said in a tweet shortly before 5 a.m. local time.

A second tweet from the Coast Guard said the vessel was reported as being on fire and that one of those rescued had minor injuries.

Firefighters with the Ventura County Fire Department responded around 3:28 a.m., according to a spokesperson.

The Coast Guard responded with two helicopters, two 45-foot Swift boats and an 87-foot cutter.

Officer Nathan Alldredge of the Santa Barbara Harbor Patrol told Fox News that his office responded to a mutual aid call

(Excerpt) Read more at foxnews.com ...


TOPICS: Front Page News; Miscellaneous; News/Current Events; US: California
KEYWORDS: california; diveboat; fire; masscasualty; santacruzisland; venturacounty
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-20 ... 41-6061-8081-100101-112 next last
To: Oldexpat
It looks like there was only one way out of the sleeping quarters. I can’t imagine why the Coast Guard would approve that.

No, I've been on the Conception. There's at least 2 escape hatches in the main berthing compartment. It's the law. Do people use them in a state of panic and overcome with toxic materials smoke in the tiny bunk room at 3am? There's going to be youngsters as some fatalities. Incredibly tragic.

61 posted on 09/02/2019 2:12:13 PM PDT by atc23
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 53 | View Replies]

To: shanover
>>We need comprehensive boat control. We need to do something!<<

How many more deaths will it take before Congress does something!!! Anything!!!
62 posted on 09/02/2019 2:21:34 PM PDT by EliRoom8
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 55 | View Replies]

To: atc23

Thanks.


63 posted on 09/02/2019 2:29:41 PM PDT by Tallguy (Facts be d@mned! The narrative must be protected at all costs!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 59 | View Replies]

To: hanamizu

This guy had a propane leak that blew up his boat: https://youtu.be/MNONnhmQ_po


64 posted on 09/02/2019 3:24:18 PM PDT by MyDogAteMyBallot
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 13 | View Replies]

To: july4thfreedomfoundation

San Nicholas is far south. All navy land, not a bombing range.

Most of the area and the islands are part of the military warning area for the Pacific Missile Test Center.


65 posted on 09/02/2019 3:36:42 PM PDT by doorgunner69
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 41 | View Replies]

To: atc23

There were three different birthday parties going on on that boat..one for a 17 year old girl very sad


66 posted on 09/02/2019 4:28:17 PM PDT by Sarah Barracuda
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 58 | View Replies]

To: atc23

Yes. Makes sense. Having practiced or informed about them would also help. If the fire started in the main cabin galley,it still would make it hard to get out. The long range fishing boats have the same sort of arrangements. Some thinking is required to make them safer.


67 posted on 09/02/2019 4:28:33 PM PDT by Oldexpat (Jobs Not Mobs)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 61 | View Replies]

To: Oldexpat

The galley area aft is where everyone is charging lithium batteries all night. Camera batteries, light batteries. Class D fire at 3am on a boat that started directly above the berthing compartment where 34 people were sleeping. (<speculation) Not where you want to be. I feel especially heartsick for the youngsters on this trip.


68 posted on 09/02/2019 4:52:18 PM PDT by atc23
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 67 | View Replies]

To: CondorFlight

Propane leak? I’m guessing heating systems were in use as it can get chilly overnight on the water...


69 posted on 09/02/2019 5:00:55 PM PDT by elteemike (Light travels faster than sound...That's why so many people appear bright until you hear them speak)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: doorgunner69

Were any of the Channel Islands ever used for a Navy bombing range?

I thought I read somewhere that one of those islands was used for that purpose, maybe in the World War II era?

Then again, there’s the old saying, don’t believe everything you read!

As for the Pacific Missile Test Center, I attended MANY Blue Angel Air Shows at the Point Mugu Naval Air Station starting in 1979. They were really something to see back then! 100,000 - 200,000 people would show up, including me, and sometimes my father.

One year, Ernest Borgnine showed up in the helicopter from the “Airwolf” TV series. When the chopper landed, he got out and waved to the enthusiastic crowd.

Good times. Lots of interesting static aircraft on display, from World War II to the present.

An elderly Japanese man had a table selling his book, “Bye Bye Black Sheep.” Turns out he was the Japanese pilot who shot down Greg “Pappy” Boyington during World War II!

One year Randy “Duke” Cunningham was selling HIS book about his experiences becoming a Navy ace in the Vietnam War. (Before he was a congressman and before he went to prison).

It was my favorite air show.


70 posted on 09/02/2019 5:54:31 PM PDT by july4thfreedomfoundation (Ban liberals, NOT guns.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 65 | View Replies]

To: hanamizu

Wow, what a great story.

I would have liked to have seen the remains of those Indian camps on Santa Rosa Island.

I never ate an abalone, but I remember seeing them for sale from time to time in markets in the Santa Barbara area.
I remember being impressed by the size of the shells with the mother-of-pearl like interiors. Many of them were the size of bicycle helmets!


71 posted on 09/02/2019 6:01:57 PM PDT by july4thfreedomfoundation (Ban liberals, NOT guns.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 52 | View Replies]

To: july4thfreedomfoundation

San Clemente island way south would have been the likely place for a bombing range. Mostly deserted and still used for SEAL live fire training.

Flew out to San Nick a couple times for some drone testing. Flully instrumented island with radar and missile launch sites. The ocean airspace is highly controlled with narrow airliner passage zones.

Ended up working at Pt Mugu for a few years, though in the early 2000’s it was winding down from the old heyday you remember. At any of the airshows when they did missile and gun shoots? SR-71 flyby was one of my favorites.


72 posted on 09/02/2019 6:07:03 PM PDT by doorgunner69
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 70 | View Replies]

To: Sarah Barracuda

Sad. May they all rest in peace.


73 posted on 09/02/2019 6:08:00 PM PDT by miserare ( Indict Hillary!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 27 | View Replies]

To: july4thfreedomfoundation

I would have liked to have seen the remains of those Indian camps on Santa Rosa Island.
I never ate an abalone, but I remember seeing them for sale from time to time in markets in the Santa Barbara area.


The middens were a thick line of charcoal and bits and pieces of shells.
The abalone required tenderizing with a metal mallet. We stopped at Santa Rosa maybe three times to weather storms. We were on the South side of the island, so we looked out on the ocean. It was a treat to get away from the boat’s generator which ran 24/7. We never saw another soul, although there could have been some people on the island. It was private property back then, now I think it is a National Park.

Also the fishing was fantastic. Our job was albacore, but we caught lots of fish for dinner at Santa Rosa.


74 posted on 09/02/2019 6:18:31 PM PDT by hanamizu
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 71 | View Replies]

To: CivilWarBrewing
I believe propane is ODORLESS,

True; but the stuff they mix with it ain't. It's mixed in just SO we can detect it by smell.

75 posted on 09/02/2019 6:23:36 PM PDT by Elsie (Heck is where people, who don't believe in Gosh, think they are not going...)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 32 | View Replies]

To: Elsie

I think it’s ethyl mercaptan?

Smells like rotten eggs.


76 posted on 09/02/2019 6:26:32 PM PDT by blueunicorn6 ("A crack shot and a good dancer")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 75 | View Replies]

To: doorgunner69

I don’t remember missile and gun shoots during the Point Mugu Air Shows I attended.

I remember one year there was a Harrier jump jet, and when that plane stopped and hovered in mid-air it was a real show stopper.

I don’t remember an SR-71 fly by....lots of F-14s, A-6 Intruders, and an occasional E2C Hawkeye and EA6B Prowler.


77 posted on 09/02/2019 6:28:30 PM PDT by july4thfreedomfoundation (Ban liberals, NOT guns.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 72 | View Replies]

To: july4thfreedomfoundation

1970-80s era shows, launch a Sidewinder at a dropped flare over the ocean, another F-14 would cut loose a 20mm burst passing by the show center. An A-7 did a toss dummy bomb drop to show how they would deliver a tactical nuke. Amazing how far and high it soared.

I would guess PC infected the shows and later ones were pale versions of the old stuff. Sort of like happened to fireworks displays. No more crowd pleasers.


78 posted on 09/02/2019 6:52:28 PM PDT by doorgunner69
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 77 | View Replies]

To: doorgunner69

I did see an aircraft drop what I think were manganese flares....they were bright white. I assume they would be used in combat to deflect enemy heat-seeking air-to-air missiles away from Navy and Marine aircraft.

I also remember, now that you mention it, the dummy bomb drop simulating the delivery of a tactical nuke. Some guy in the crowd yelled out, “Hey! Where’s the mushroom cloud?”

There were junior-high school age boys at the Point Mugu Air Show every year yelling “Get Your Program!” Every year I bought one of those glossy magazine-like programs, and a large, color illustrated Blue Angels Yearbook type booklet.

I still have them all, packed away in my storage locker somewhere. I haven’t seen them in years.


79 posted on 09/02/2019 8:29:12 PM PDT by july4thfreedomfoundation (Ban liberals, NOT guns.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 78 | View Replies]

To: Tallguy

Nitrox-yes, so advertised.


80 posted on 09/02/2019 10:29:42 PM PDT by Ozark Tom
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 12 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-20 ... 41-6061-8081-100101-112 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson