GUILTY CA - Boat fire near Santa Cruz Island; 34 missing, Sept 2019 *captain charged*

[imstilla.grandma]

"When they opened the galley door, which was the main exit for those people sleeping down below, they said there was so much fire in there that even the roof tiles were on fire and falling from the ceiling already," Bob Hansen said. "So there was no access for them to get to the 34 guests that were below."
Authorities provide update on deadly boat fire near Santa Cruz Island: WATCH LIVE

 

[imstilla.grandma]

“I proceeded to do a coastline search for passengers, and once I didn’t find anyone, I offered assistance on fire fighting.”

At one point, the Conception broke free from its anchor and started drifting toward the island — meaning larger firefighting boats couldn’t go any closer.

So Amaral had to step in, “I was in a much smaller 27-foot boat and was able to go in close to the boat, attach a chain and pull it away from the island,” he said.

After the boat sank, Amaral said several bodies surfaced. He said he helped with the recovery efforts.
Watch Live: Official update on deadly SoCal boat fire

 

[Inthedetails]

The scenario that makes the most sense to me is that everyone under deck was asleep and became unconscious due to smoke inhalation.
But I wonder, wouldn’t at least one person have been awake, been able to smell smoke or see flames, or hear the commotion that was going on above?

I know that I don’t sleep well in places away from home, especially when I have slept in a dorm-style arrangement similar to these sleeping conditions. It seems likely that at least one person out of 29 would have been awake.

I think it happened FAST and there wasn't enough time to smell smoke before the place was engulfed in flames. I'm not an expert so my opinion isn't worth anything, but I envision more of an explosion (did an electric spark ignite a gas, for example?) and BOOM, the boat was instantly in flames.

I don't think anyone in the lower deck had a chance to survive.

However, I'm curious why the bodies found yesterday were described as having drowned. I would expect they died from the fire, not the water. It will be interesting (in a painful way) to learn what exactly happened, and I do think the fire experts and medical examiners will be able to figure out what happened.

jmo

 

[zecats]

The scenario that makes the most sense to me is that everyone under deck was asleep and became unconscious due to smoke inhalation.
But I wonder, wouldn’t at least one person have been awake, been able to smell smoke or see flames, or hear the commotion that was going on above?

I know that I don’t sleep well in places away from home, especially when I have slept in a dorm-style arrangement similar to these sleeping conditions. It seems likely that at least one person out of 29 would have been awake.

Good points. I'm the same way, though usually after the first night, I'm able to relax and sleep better. Maybe not in those cramped claustrophobic quarters though, because that's one of my big phobias at play. This was their second night and second day too, I presume, of diving and also celebrating birthdays. Perhaps they were all just exhausted and sound asleep. In a big way, I hope so, that they didn't suffer in that scenario.

 

[PommyMommy]

#BREAKING: The Coast Guard has called off its search and rescue efforts in the deadly boat fire near Santa Cruz Island. Twenty bodies have been recovered, while another four to six have been spotted in the wreck but are not yet safe to move.
10:19 AM - 3 Sep 2019

34 people feared dead in SoCal dive boat fire
[...]

In a news conference Tuesday morning, officials said 20 bodies had been recovered. Divers had spotted another four to six victims during their search, but the boat would need to be stabilized before they could be retrieved, authorities added.

The Coast Guard announced they would be calling off their search and rescue efforts.

[...]

 

[PommyMommy]

Cheri Carlson on Twitter
Coast Guard announced it suspended search efforts this morning for survivors of the boat fire off Santa Cruz Island as the recovery phase continues. 20 victims’ bodies have been recovered. 11 females, 9 males, authorities said at a.m. news conference
10:22 AM - 3 Sep 2019

 

[imstilla.grandma]

The Hansens said their own daughter has gone diving on that boat before, and that they have a family friend who was a dive master who did not make it out. Rescue operations are still ongoing, as family members of the nine people still unaccounted for wait for answers.
California boat fire: Couple who rescued survivors speaks out about what they "can't unsee" - CBS News

 

[zecats]

The Hansens said their own daughter has gone diving on that boat before, and that they have a family friend who was a dive master who did not make it out. Rescue operations are still ongoing, as family members of the nine people still unaccounted for wait for answers.
California boat fire: Couple who rescued survivors speaks out about what they "can't unsee" - CBS News

Lucky they were there to help the crew members who survived. Unlucky as well, to have been witness to such horror.

 

[imstilla.grandma]

Investigators Examine Cause Of Deadly Boat Fire Off Southern California Coast | WAMU

Audio:
https://dcs.megaphone.fm/BUR8186626468.mp3?key=ab257b7d1e0f65e80228253e9fd4765a

***so many apologies to make for not providing source in post. I’m sorry.

 

[Inthedetails]

https://dcs.megaphone.fm/BUR8186626468.mp3?key=ab257b7d1e0f65e80228253e9fd4765a

what is this a link to? Without knowing, I'm hesitant to click.

tia.

 

[Kubirai]

The most recent LA Times article gives a little more detail about the location of exits from the bunk area. An earlier article said that a safety orientation would have been conducted in the galley near the escape hatch. Maybe both exits were blocked by fire or obscured by smoke?

"At the bow end of the bunk room was a curving staircase that led up to the galley area. Toward the stern, an escape hatch was situated above one of the bunks and led to the salon deck, which included the galley.

“It’s on a ceiling of the bunk room or the floor of the galley,” said Bruce Rausch, 69, a veteran dive master in Orange County and a retired San Onofre nuclear engineer who’d been on more than a dozen dive trips aboard the Conception. “All you have to do is get up to a bunk and keep going up and you use the bunk as ladders.”"

Once the fire started, it was too late for many on board the Conception

JMO

Based on new info, those stairs and a separate escape hatch went into the galley. But galley had a catastrophic fire.

Perhaps this tragedy will result in having the emergency escape hatch go up to the deck. Maybe even automatic sprinklers in sleeping area, using seawater and pump.

 

[Lilibet]

what is this a link to? Without knowing, I'm hesitant to click.

tia.

It’s some kind of recorded report. I didn’t listen. But yes, all links should come with a description so we can decide whether to bother clicking on them.

 

[Kubirai]

I just watched the CNN upload "Dive boat owner gives insight into deadly California fire" in YouTube.

The owner confirmed that the boat had fire extinguishers and even a fire hose. He also confirmed there was a separate hatch, and that the bunk room is never locked.

 

[imstilla.grandma]

James Miranda, right, of Santa Barbara, holds flowers and takes a moment to reflect at a dock near the Sea Landing at Santa Barbara Harbor in Santa Barbara, Calif., Monday, Sept. 2, 2019. A fire raged through a boat carrying recreational scuba divers anchored near an island off the Southern California coast early Monday, leaving multiple people dead and hope diminishing that any of the more than two dozen people still missing would be found alive. (AP Photo/Ringo H.W. Chiu)
Boat Fire California

 

[imstilla.grandma]

I just watched the CNN upload "Dive boat owner gives insight into deadly California fire" in YouTube.

The owner confirmed that the boat had fire extinguishers and even a fire hose. He also confirmed there was a separate hatch, and that the bunk room is never locked.

 

[Cryptic]

Based on new info, those stairs and a separate escape hatch went into the galley.

I believe that the escape hatch went to the saloon deck (an enclosed deck). This is on the same deck as the galley, but not the galley per se.

Perhaps this tragedy will result in having the emergency escape hatch go up to the deck. Maybe even automatic sprinklers in sleeping area, using seawater and pump.

I am thinking that a token escape hatch going anywhere is not sufficient for 34(+) plus people to escape in an emergency situation. Rather there needs to be a true alternative exit. As for sprinklers, my guess is that smoke inhalation was the primary danger and cause of death.

 

[imstilla.grandma]

 

[Betty P]

what is this a link to? Without knowing, I'm hesitant to click.

tia.

Sounds like an interview/ newscast from a local radio station. Almost sounds like NPR or local public radio. It's fine, good interview

ETA: I think it's a Santa Barbara radio station. The guy being interviewed is from Santa Barbara. He says they have to figure out what to do with the vessel, how to examine. Will probably have to bring in additional help for the ME as they will have to autopsy all the bodies of the victims and don't have enough staff in Santa Barbara.

Saul Gonzalez - California Report - is the guy being interviewed.

 

[imstilla.grandma]

It’s some kind of recorded report. I didn’t listen. But yes, all links should come with a description so we can decide whether to bother clicking on them.

Please see edited post:
CA - Boat fire near Santa Cruz Island; 34 missing - Sept 2019

 

[katydid23]

I believe that the escape hatch went to the saloon deck (an enclosed deck). This is on the same deck as the galley, but not the galley per se.

I am thinking that a token escape hatch going anywhere is not sufficient for 34(+) plus people to escape in an emergency situation. Rather there needs to be a true alternative exit. As for sprinklers, my guess is that smoke inhalation was the primary danger and cause of death.

I'm wondering if the few bodies they found in the water, that had drowned, perhaps escaped through the hatch, early on in the fire?