ASTORIA, Ore. — The U.S. Coast Guard cutter Active which happened to be in the area helped to rescue two people after their boat caught on fire on Monday.
The Portlock, a 60-foot fishing vessel, was approximately 10 miles from the coast of Long Beach in southwest Washington when its crew members reported the fire around 4 p.m.
The pair was able to communicate their location before hopping on a life raft, officials said.
The Active, Port Angeles’ largest Coast Guard cutter, was 8 miles away from the burning vessel at the time and was diverted to assist.
Also called were an MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter from Air Station Astoria and a 47-foot motor lifeboat from Station Cape Disappointment.
Once on scene, the Active launched a small-boat crew to retrieve the two men from the life raft. The two were then transferred to the motor lifeboat and brought to Station Cape Disappointment.
The vessel had approximately 400 gallons of diesel fuel and two propane tanks on board at the time. To minimize its impact on the coastal environment, Coast Guard crews sunk the Portlock after consulting the Environmental Protection Agency and other federal officials.
Investigators said the blaze started in the engine room. The cause of the fire was not known.
