USCG Responds to Vessel Fire

The U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) reported it is responding to a report of a vessel that caught fire and became disabled with two men and a dog aboard south of the McCormick Bridge in the Intracoastal Waterway in Jacksonville Beach, Fla., Thursday.

A boatcrew from Coast Guard Station Mayport, Fla., is currently on scene with the vessel, the fire is extinguished and there are no injuries reported, the USCG said.

Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department notified watchstanders in the Coast Guard Sector Jacksonville command center of the situation at 7:54 a.m. The men were reportedly transiting from Palm Cove Marina in Jacksonville aboard the 33-foot sport fisher Day Tripper when the boat caught fire.

The fire was extinguished a short time later but the boat became disabled as a result and drifted toward the bridge, grounding south of the bridge and west of channel.

The Coast Guard boatcrew intends to remain with the Day Tripper until commercial salvage arrives.

Also assisting in the response were Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and Sea Tow Jacksonville.

uscgnews.com