As any sailor will attest, a shipboard fire while at sea is the worst situation for all hands. All the variables of containment come into play: location of ship, time of day, location of source of fire, ability of crew to fight the blaze with on board resources, and the availability of external help.
A chartered dive boat with 39 persons on board caught fire; except for the 5 crew members situated on the top deck, all 34 passengers perished in minutes as the blaze engulfed the 75' charter boat.
Crew members dove overboard and swam to a nearby boat to seek help. Before the help arrived, the charter boat burned to the waterline and sank in 20' of water 20 yards of the beach of Santa Cruz Island, part of the Channel Islands National Park. The Park is world renowned for its clear waters and ample marine life. Coastal inhabitants have enjoyed fishing and diving here for over 100 years. As reported, the trapped divers were part of a private group run by a team of scuba divers. The boat itself is owned by a company long in existence in Santa Barbara, the coastal city about 25 miles north of the islands.
The US Coast Guard is responsible for certifying the watercraft to ensure it can safely carry paying passengers. Strict rules are followed regarding life jackets, life boats, fire extinguishers, and the dissemination of such information when passengers first come aboard.
Having dived many times in these waters, the tragedy has significant meaning to the Mayor and many of his cohorts. Endless questions are now being asked as to how and why this great loss of life occurred. Yes, there are cramped quarters on a small boat; yes, few exits exist from below decks; yes, passengers were asleep and the fire occurred at 3:25am in complete darkness; and there apparently was no sound of an alarm giving rise to the belief that an explosion preceded the blaze. A complete investigation has begun and the Santa Barbara County Coroner will be in charge. The US Coast Guard will conduct its own investigation as to the source of the fire and if any violations/procedures were involved. The entire California Coast community will mourn this tragic loss of life.
