Three boaters are safe after their vessel caught fire in Dauphin Island Bay, forcing them to abandon ship into a life raft while a Coast Guard crew raced to the scene.
Watchstanders at Coast Guard Sector Mobile received the report at 5:55 p.m. Wednesday: a 36-foot sport fisher was burning about half a mile north of Dauphin Island, near Billygoat Hole. The Sector directed a 29-foot Response Boat-Small crew from Coast Guard Station Dauphin Island to launch.
The three people aboard had escaped onto a life raft before rescuers located them in the water at 6:35 p.m. They were carried back to Station Dauphin Island, where EMS was waiting, and arrived in stable condition. Dauphin Island Mayor Jeff Collier said all three were reportedly doing well.
The Coast Guard boatcrew also ferried Dauphin Island Fire Rescue firefighters out to the burning vessel to battle the fire. The cause remained undetermined.