PHOTOS AVAILABLE: Coast Guard, partner agencies respond to boat fire near Carlsbad

U.S. Coast Guard sent this bulletin at 07/15/2021 08:56 PM EDT

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News Release  

U.S. Coast Guard 11th District PA Detachment San Diego
Contact: Coast Guard PA Detachment San Diego
Office: (619) 278-7025
After Hours: (619) 252-1304
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Coast Guard responds to a boat fire near Carlsbad

Coast Guard Cutter Munro crewmembers work with Coast Guard Cutters Haddock and Benjamin Bottoms to extinguish a vessel fire off the coast of San Diego, July 15, 2021. The vessel left the Oceanside harbor heading towards Carlsbad when it was seen on fire. (U.S. Coast Guard courtesy photo) Coast Guard Cutter Benjamin Bottoms crewmembers work with Coast Guard Cutters Haddock and Munro to extinguish a vessel fire off the coast of San Diego, July 15, 2021. The vessel left the Oceanside harbor heading towards Carlsbad when it was seen on fire. (U.S. Coast Guard courtesy photo) Coast Guard Cutter Munro crewmembers work with Coast Guard Cutters Haddock and Benjamin Bottoms to extinguish a vessel fire off the coast of San Diego, July 15, 2021. The vessel left the Oceanside harbor heading towards Carlsbad when it was seen on fire. (U.S. Coast Guard courtesy photo)
Coast Guard Cutter Benjamin Bottoms crewmembers work with Coast Guard Cutters Haddock and Munro to extinguish a vessel fire off the coast of San Diego, July 15, 2021. The vessel left the Oceanside harbor heading towards Carlsbad when it was seen on fire. (U.S. Coast Guard courtesy photo) Coast Guard Cutter Benjamin Bottoms crewmembers work with Coast Guard Cutters Haddock and Munro to extinguish a vessel fire off the coast of San Diego, July 15, 2021. The vessel left the Oceanside harbor heading towards Carlsbad when it was seen on fire. (U.S. Coast Guard courtesy photo) Coast Guard Cutter Munro crewmembers work with Coast Guard Cutters Haddock and Benjamin Bottoms to extinguish a vessel fire off the coast of San Diego, July 15, 2021. The vessel left the Oceanside harbor heading towards Carlsbad when it was seen on fire. (U.S. Coast Guard courtesy photo)

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SAN DIEGO — Coast Guard responded to a boat fire Thursday morning near Carlsbad.

Coast Guard Sector San Diego watchstanders received several reports of a boat, 50 feet in length, on fire approximately seven miles off the Carlsbad coast around 9 a.m. 

Coast Guard watchstanders dispatched an MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crew and diverted the Coast Guard Cutters Munro, Benjamin Bottoms and the Haddock.

While Coast Guard assets were en route, the Oceanside Harbor Master confirmed that the boat's name was the Relentless. The Harbor Master saw the boat leave the Oceanside Harbor heading towards Carlsbad Thursday morning and stated that the owner lived aboard the boat and was presumed to have been alone.

The Coast Guard cutters arrived on scene and worked together to extinguish the boat fire while the Jayhawk helicopter crew searched for survivors. The boat sustained significant damage and eventually sank in approximately 1,800 feet of water. 

The Jayhawk crew conducted search patterns for more than six hours spanning over 600 square miles with no sightings of survivors. 

The three Coast Guard cutters are still searching. 

-USCG-