WTF-34 people died after boat catches fire off California's Santa Cruz Island: officials

[malaise]

Last edited Mon Sep 2, 2019, 06:32 PM - Edit history (1)

https://www.foxnews.com/us/people-killed-boat-fire-california-santa-cruz-island
<snip>
At least 34 people have been killed after a boat caught fire off Santa Cruz Island, California, early Monday morning, fire officials have confirmed.

Fox affiliate KTTV confirmed the fatalities. Five people were rescued.


The U.S. Coast Guard said earlier it was coordinating a large rescue effort Monday in response.

KKFX-TV reported that Coast Guard Los Angeles responded to reports of a fully engulfed boat fire off Santa Cruz Island around 5 a.m.

[Iliyah]

1. I'm watching CNN and no mention of deaths . . . .

oh my.

[malaise]

4. Here

Looks like they were asleep
https://twitter.com/search?q=34+dead+boat+california&ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Esearch

[PCIntern]

2. Omg. What a horrible way to die

Trapped in a conflagration below decks with infinite water around to put out the fire but the irony...it must have been a horrifying agony for the minutes it took to realize the situation through being burned to death times 34. 😩

[malaise]

3. Horrific

Years ago a fire chief told me that most people die from the smoke inhalation long before they burn - that's the only good news but it must still be terrifying.

[Agschmid]

5. So far just "feared dead" yet to see it confirmed.

Last edited Mon Sep 2, 2019, 11:13 AM - Edit history (1)

ETA: Seems it was now confirmed, very sad.

[cwydro]

6. CNN saying 34 on board, 5 rescued. No confirmation of deaths yet.

Doesn’t look good though.

[malaise]

9. Check the link at $4

They were sleeping below

[cwydro]

11. One can only hope the smoke got them before the fire.

Awful story.

[malaise]

18. Well if they were sleeping that's possible

I also hope the number of persons killed is less than we're seeing

[cwydro]

19. Yeah, eventually we'll learn the news.

Very sad.

[displacedtexan]

7. I just read it was a diver boat. No mention of oxygen tanks, though.

This is so incredibly sad. 5 crew members rescued.

[malaise]

10. The link at #4 says diving boat

Good observation re oxygen tanks

[MrsCoffee]

15. First thing I thought of when they were saying the fire kept reflashing.

[cwydro]

20. Divers use air tanks, not oxygen tanks.

Common mistake.

[spanone]

21. Exactly...compressed air...period.

[mopinko]

29. they can still explode in a fire.

the people on the boat that picked up the crew said there were repeated explosions.
air is what burns in fires. a big rush of air in a fire is gonna flare.

might have been something else that started the fire, but exploding air tanks would feed it like crazy.

[LongtimeAZDem]

37. The boat offered Nitrox, and if I recall correctly, they mixed on-board when I was on another of

their boats, the Truth. if so, they would have oxygen on-board in quantity.

[Sgent]

25. There might be

an oxygen tank onboard for first aid, but divers don't use oxygen for breathing -- either standard air, helox, or nitrox.

[MissB]

8. CNN article indicates that they can't get onboard because the fire keeps flashing up

after being put out.

[dalton99a]

12. Before the fire:

https://cadivingnews.com/dive-boat/conception-2/

[Glimmer of Hope]

13. Local news is not reporting fatalities yet.

https://www.keyt.com/news/possible-fatalities-in-boat-incident-near-santa-cruz-island/1116129953

[Dennis Donovan]

14. Truth Aquatics website for MV Conception

https://www.truthaquatics.com/conception/



Specifications
Date launched 1981

Where built Long Beach, California

Length 75’-0”(weather deck)

Length overall (LOA) 79’-0”

Beam 25’-0”

Bunk Capacity 46 people maximum, 13 double bunks, 20 single bunks.

Type of Bunk facility Open berthing with pillows, blankets, curtains, and reading lights. Dressing room located in bunkroom.

Mains engines Detroit Diesel 8V92 Turbo DDEC @ 550 HP each

Generators Northern Lights MP55C, 55 KW, 220/110 Volt

Cruising speed 10 Knots

Fuel Capacity 1600 Gallons

Range 880 Nautical miles

Electronics 46 mile radar, VHF Radio, Single Sideband Radio, Video depth finder, Digital depth finder, GPS, Offshore Navigator Computer Program, Underwater Recall, Dive tracker™

Heads 3

Showers 4 (2 on deck, 2 below deck) , fresh hot water

Water capacity 1830 gallons

Galley Outfitted with all appliances necessary for food preparation and is waterproof for divers in wetsuits. Onboard built-in Bar-B-Que.

Galley seating Cushioned and separate chairs.

Sundeck Large upper deck area provides seating and pads for sunbathing.

First Aid Full first aid kit, O2 bottles, and crew is certified annually in CPR and O2 administration.

Lifesaving Rafts and Jackets for 110 passengers

Safety EPIRB (emergency position indicating radio beacon)

Fixed CO2 engine room fire suppression system

Compressors Ingersoll-Rand 10T-2@18 C.F.M.

Ingersoll-Rand 15T-4@21 C.F.M.

Capable of filling to 3500 P.S.I.

Nitrox Available

Live Game Wells Built in in transom for game storage.

Gear Storage Kayak rack for storing kayaks, paddleboards, and surfboards off the deck.

Stern Compartment Used for Wetsuit Drying Room, Game Freezing, Clothes Dryer

Exits Port, Starboard, and Bow exits for easy water entry. Mask rinsers at each exit.

Chase Boat 16 foot Caribe with 40 HP Honda 4-stroke outboard.

Water Boarding State of the art ramp at stern for easy boarding

Dive area All offshore Islands of Southern California. Primary destination of Anacapa, Santa Cruz, Santa Rosa, San Miguel Islands.

Other Islands visited are Catalina, Santa Barbara, San Clemente, San Nicolas, and Cortez Banks.

Cost Individual prices vary depending on charteree. All multi day trips include all meals, snacks, beverages (excluding alcoholic), and
air refills

Owner Glen Fritzler, Truth Aquatics Inc.
Address 301 West Cabrillo Blvd
Santa Barbara, CA 93101-3886 USA
Phone [phone] or 805-963-3564
Fax [phone]
Web www.truthaquatics.com
E-mail [e-mail]

Bunk Layout

[Dennis Donovan]

16. Package details:

http://www.worldwidedivingadventures.com/events/labor-day-weekend/

Labor Day Weekend; Northern Channel Islands
Date(s)
08/31/2019 - 09/02/2019

$665*
The Liveaboard
Truth Aquatics live-aboards are designed by divers for divers. Their commitment to service shows through the smiles of crewmembers that love their jobs and undergo special safety training. The Galley folks cook up some gourmet cuisine! We’re on the Conception for this holiday weekend.

The Destination
On the Labor Day trip, divers have the unique opportunity to explore the pinnacles of San Miguel Island. The beginning of September is the best time to be at San Mig, which see strong winds and swell during much of the year. This rarely visited island is loaded with color: anemones, crabs, nudibranchs covering every inch of wall with a rainbow. Great for macro-photography. Nutrient rich waters bathing this island bring BIG fish: halibut, bugs, rockfish, wolfeels, lingcod. The precipitous geology at Boomerang, Skyscrapers, Richardson’s and Wilson’s Rock will blow you away. The island also hosts pristine shallow reefs hosting an incredibly diverse collection of sea life. Night dives are delightful; octopi roam the reefs and bioluminescent zooplankton flash colors to silhouette the diver. Other destinations may include Santa Rosa, Santa Cruz, Anacapa, and Santa Barbara Islands.

We will meet at the Santa Barbara Harbor on Friday night, boarding anytime after 8pm. Fall asleep with the Conception departing at 4am, Saturday morning. The boat will return on Monday (Labor Day) about 5pm. The Sea Landing Dive Center is located within steps from the Truth Aquatic vessels for convenient equipment rental (tanks and weights are not provided on-board). See more details “Preparing for your Channel Islands Trip” on our Currents page. Marine Biologist Kristy brings her microscope to show divers silicious spicules and pumping pedicellariae– the colors on marine invertebrates are amazing up close!

Package includes:

Breakfasts made to order (ex. breakfast burrito)
Scrumptious lunches and dinners (ex. homemade pot pies and BBQ tri tip… let me know if you have dietary needs or are vegetarian…the chefs make great marinated tofu!)
Plenty of snacks and desserts (ex. spinach dip, and berry pie)
Non-alcoholic beverages (ex. sodas, juices, milk)
Unlimited air fills, unlimited diving
Fuel Surcharge
On-board Naturalist
Optional Add-ons:

Nitrox ($6/tank)
Kayak ($30/day)
Double bunk guarantee ($25/night, limited availability)
Spirits (if you’ve got lots, bring a cooler!)
Contact: Dan Chua, [phone], [e-mail]

Payment and Cancellation Policy: A $300 deposit reserves your space. Cancellations are subject to a $100 processing fee. Final payment is due one month prior to departure, late payments incur a 3% fee. No refunds may be processed after this date. Package price is subject to change.

*We now accept all major credit cards, as well as Venmo, Zelle and PayPal. Credit card and Paypal payments incur a 3.5% fee. Price subject to change.

Please make checks payable to: Worldwide Diving Adventures

[malaise]

24. Just hearing on Local 10 that the crew were awake and saved themselves

That is not good

[CentralMass]

28. As I it heard the 5 crew were awake. By the time they realized there was a fire it was impossible to

get below and vice versa. They had the distress call on the news. I believe it was the captain. During the frantic mayday call he said I can't breathe and apparently jumped overboard. I believe the other 4 crew members had already done so. I think the flames had overtaken the pilot house by then. The report mention the crew slept in the main cabin and the passengers below it took the Coast Guard 58 minutes to reach the scene and the boat was burnt to the water line by then. One or more of the crew were injured . They were evacuated for treatment but the captain stayed to assist.

[mopinko]

30. they were likely up and working. they were supposed to set out at 4am.

[Niagara]

17. Tragic and heartbreaking

[MiniMe]

22. Bad headline, they died, they weren't killed

Killed assumes intent.

[malaise]

23. Valid point - will edit

Thank you

[Volaris]

27. Kaiser Soze did it...

[mopinko]

31. 8 known deaths. 4 bodies recovered, 4 seen on the ocean floor.

surprised they are yet saying that they are assumed dead.
the recovered bodies will have to be identified by dna.

maybe they are just waiting to contact next of kin, but it still seems odd.

[KY_EnviroGuy]

32. ABC-LA reports 25 bodies found - approx. 1AM-EST update

25 bodies located after boat erupts in flames off Santa Cruz Island
Twenty-five bodies have now been located while nine remain missing and five people were rescued after a boat erupted in flames off the coast of Ventura County.

LINK: https://abc7.com/

snips...

The 75-foot Conception was anchored about 20 yards off Santa Cruz Island when the scuba diving vessel caught fire about 3:15 a.m., said Mike Eliason, a spokesman for the Santa Barbara County Fire Department. Multiple agencies responded to the scene, where five crew members who jumped overboard were rescued by a good Samaritan's pleasure craft, according to the U.S. Coast Guard. One of the rescued individuals suffered a broken leg.

The Conception sank in 64 feet of water as firefighters were battling the flames, leaving the bow protruding from the water, officials said.
+++
Santa Barbara County Sheriff Bill Brown said the situation - a boat fire in the middle of the night, with people trapped at the bottom of a ship - is one of the most difficult operations for rescue crews. "This is probably the worst-case scenario you could possibly have," Brown said. "Fire is the scourge of any ship," he said.

The boat trip was touted as a Labor Day weekend dive trip that started on Aug. 31 and was scheduled to return Sept. 3. There were six crew members on board and one of them is among the missing. Passengers who were in the bottom of the ship were likely sound asleep at the time of the fire, Brown said. The boat was in a remote location and there was limited firefighting capability.

KY........... ..........

[malaise]

33. Too sad

[malaise]

35. It's just so sad to lose so many young people

and I doubt that anyone contemplated a fire risk on a diving boat.

[DesertRat]

36. Such a tragic loss

We have friends and family who go out on boats like this on fishing and diving trips. This is so heartbreaking.