33 unaccounted from fire on Santa Barbara-based diving boat near Santa Cruz Island
Over 30 people are unaccounted for following a boat fire aboard a Santa Barbara-based diving boat early Wednesday morning.
The fire broke out onboard the Santa Barbara-based boat “Conception” on the north side of Santa Cruz Island around 3:15 a.m. 38 people were on board at the time. 33 people remain unaccounted for.
The United States Coast Guard and Ventura County Fire Department responded to the fire. The fire broke out aboard the boat, which sank about 20 yards off shore in 64 feet of water.
In morning tweets, the Coast Guard reported “multiple assets” sent to the boat, which is used by divers who explore in the ocean waters of the Santa Barbara Channel. Ventura County Fire tweeted photos that show the boat fully engulfed in flames.
Five people were rescued from the boat. CNN reported that four crew members were rescued and the ship’s captain remained at the site of the boat fire. The Coast Guard reported one minor injury among that group.
The owner “Conception”, which is a 75-foot vessel frequently used by divers who explore the waters in the Santa Barbara Channel, arrived to brief Coast Guard officials at the Channel Islands Harbor.
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.
The Ventura County Fire Department has confirmed fatalities in the boat accident. 33 of the 38 people aboard “Conception” remain missing.
