Santa Barbara County – On Tuesday afternoon a disabled boat about 20 miles offshore of Santa Cruz and Santa Rosa Islands caught fire, forcing the skipper to abandon the vessel. The incident was first spotted by Jesus Aguirre, a driver traveling north on Highway 101 toward Lompoc, who reported black smoke to the U.S. Coast Guard’s Los Angeles office.

Coast Guard response

The Coast Guard confirmed receipt of the report and activated a small response boat from its Channel Islands station, along with an aerial unit from the Ventura station. Responders learned that the skipper was awaiting a tow when the fire erupted, prompting him to flee the burning craft in a small boat or kayak.

Good‑samaritan rescue

A passing good‑samaritan observed the adrift mariner and transferred him to a Coast Guard‑assigned tow boat that was on scene. The rescued skipper was brought safely aboard, and the fire was later contained.

Environmental and law‑enforcement follow‑up

After the flames subsided, the aerial response aircraft was released from the incident. The small Coast Guard vessel remained to assess any potential environmental impact from the boat fire. The Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office also joined the effort, gathering images of the scene for further investigation.

Ongoing investigation

Authorities have not released details about the cause of the fire or the condition of the disabled vessel. The Coast Guard and Sheriff’s Office continue to investigate, and additional information will be provided as it becomes available.

This rescue underscores the importance of vigilant citizens like Mr. Aguirre and the rapid response capabilities of the Coast Guard in protecting lives and the marine environment along California’s coast.

Original reporting: KEYT (Ventura/Santa Barbara) — read the source article.