US Coast Guard Assists Burning Vessel

The U.S. Coast Guard 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., joined the vessel on the scene, the fire was extinguished and there were no injuries reported.

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 remained with the Day Tripper the until commercial salvage arrived.

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

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Press Release, April 18, 2014; Image: USCG