Coast Guard responds to boat fire 14 miles southeast of Chincoteague, VA

U.S. Coast Guard sent this bulletin at 08/11/2017 09:44 PM EDT

united states coast guard 

News Release  

August 11, 2017
U.S. Coast Guard 5th District Mid-Atlantic
Contact: 5th District Public Affairs
Office: (757) 398-6272
After Hours: (757) 434-7712

Coast Guard responds to boat fire 14 miles southeast of Chincoteague, VA

Petty Officer 3rd Class Cory Morrison of Station Chincoteague assists mariners aboard the Rod Buster en route to Chincoteague, Virginia, Aug. 11, 2017. Station Chincoteague personnel received notification the 32-foot Rod Buster had an onboard fire and was taking on water. Once on scene, Station Chincoteague personnel passed over a dewatering pump and plugged a hole in the hull. The vessel was then towed back to Chincoteague and moored safely. (U.S. Coast Guard photograph by Petty Officer 3rd Class Tyler Leighton.)

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CHINCOTEAGUE, Va. — The Coast Guard rescued two mariners after their boat caught fire 14 miles northeast of Chincoteague, Friday evening.

Watchstanders in the Sector Hampton Roads Command Center in Portsmouth received a call from two men aboard the 32-foot boat Rod Buster stating they had an onboard fire.

A 47-foot Motor Lifeboat crew from Station Chincoteague launched to assist. While en route, the mariners aboard the Rod Buster were able to extinguish the fire, but the boat was taking on water. 

Once on scene, Station Chincoteague personnel transferred a dewatering pump to the vessel, and came aboard to plug a hole in the hull. The vessel was then towed back to Curtis Merritt Harbor in Chincoteague where the vessel was safely moored.

“Thanks to the mariners having proper fire equipment onboard, they extinguished the fire, and prevented the situation from becoming much worse,” said Petty Officer 3rd class Tyler Leighton, coxswain for the case.

Petty Officer 3rd Class Cory Morrison of Station Chincoteague assists one of the mariners aboard the Rod Buster 14 miles southest of Chincoteague, Virginia, Aug. 11, 2017. Station Chincoteague personnel received notification the 32-foot Rod Buster had an onboard fire and was taking on water. Once on scene, Station Chincoteague personnel passed over a dewatering pump and plugged a hole in the hull. The vessel was then towed back to Chincoteague and moored safely. (U.S. Coast Guard photograph by Petty Officer 3rd Class Tyler Leighton.)

 Petty Officer 3rd Class Cory Morrison of Station Chincoteague minds the towline en route to Chincoteague, Virginia, Aug. 11, 2017. Station Chincoteague personnel received notification the 32-foot Rod Buster had an onboard fire and was taking on water. Once on scene, Station Chincoteague personnel passed over a dewatering pump and plugged a hole in the hull. The vessel was then towed back to Chincoteague and moored safely. (U.S. Coast Guard photograph by Petty Officer 3rd Class Tyler Leighton.)

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