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| Bodies of 20 Victims Recovered in California Boat Fire | Bodies of 20 Victims Recovered in California Boat Fire |
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| Officials on Tuesday said they had called off a search for survivors of a devastating fire that engulfed a commercial scuba diving vessel off the coast of Southern California after recovering 20 bodies. | Officials on Tuesday said they had called off a search for survivors of a devastating fire that engulfed a commercial scuba diving vessel off the coast of Southern California after recovering 20 bodies. |
| As the scope of the disaster became clear, with 14 people still unaccounted for, family members gathered, some from outside of the region, on the coast at a family support center at a local fairground awaiting news about their loved ones. A makeshift memorial to the victims, with flowers, candles and notes, was erected at the harbor in Santa Barbara. | As the scope of the disaster became clear, with 14 people still unaccounted for, family members gathered, some from outside of the region, on the coast at a family support center at a local fairground awaiting news about their loved ones. A makeshift memorial to the victims, with flowers, candles and notes, was erected at the harbor in Santa Barbara. |
| The deadly fire was the worst maritime disaster in California in recent memory, and was another tragedy endured in recent years by the coastal community around Santa Barbara, which faced a devastating wildfire in 2017 followed by deadly mudslides. | The deadly fire was the worst maritime disaster in California in recent memory, and was another tragedy endured in recent years by the coastal community around Santa Barbara, which faced a devastating wildfire in 2017 followed by deadly mudslides. |
| Sheriff Bill Brown of Santa Barbara County said at a news conference on Tuesday morning that 20 bodies had been recovered and that divers had seen between four and six additional bodies in the wreckage, but were not yet able to recover them. Five crew members were able to escape, including the captain, and were the only ones to survive. The boat, a 75-foot scuba vessel named the Conception, had 39 people on board — six crew members and 33 passengers. | Sheriff Bill Brown of Santa Barbara County said at a news conference on Tuesday morning that 20 bodies had been recovered and that divers had seen between four and six additional bodies in the wreckage, but were not yet able to recover them. Five crew members were able to escape, including the captain, and were the only ones to survive. The boat, a 75-foot scuba vessel named the Conception, had 39 people on board — six crew members and 33 passengers. |
| “Sadly, no additional survivors have been found,” Sheriff Brown said. | “Sadly, no additional survivors have been found,” Sheriff Brown said. |
| Among the victims were reportedly at least two students from the Pacific Collegiate School, a local charter school for grades seven to 12, and two parents, according to local news reports. | Among the victims were reportedly at least two students from the Pacific Collegiate School, a local charter school for grades seven to 12, and two parents, according to local news reports. |
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| Sheriff Brown said that among the 20 bodies recovered, 11 were women and nine were men. He said investigators were in the process of identifying the victims, and collecting DNA samples from family members to help match the victims with loved ones. State investigators had arrived in Santa Barbara to assist, and were planning to use a DNA analysis tool that was used last year to identify victims of the Camp Fire in Paradise, Calif. | Sheriff Brown said that among the 20 bodies recovered, 11 were women and nine were men. He said investigators were in the process of identifying the victims, and collecting DNA samples from family members to help match the victims with loved ones. State investigators had arrived in Santa Barbara to assist, and were planning to use a DNA analysis tool that was used last year to identify victims of the Camp Fire in Paradise, Calif. |
| “It is never an easy decision to suspend search efforts,” said Capt. Monica Rochester, a Coast Guard spokeswoman. “We know this is a very difficult time for families and friends of victims. We have suspended search efforts due to no additional individuals having been witnessed entering the water. Our last aircraft overflight this morning has revealed that no additional signs of distress or debris has been witnessed.” | “It is never an easy decision to suspend search efforts,” said Capt. Monica Rochester, a Coast Guard spokeswoman. “We know this is a very difficult time for families and friends of victims. We have suspended search efforts due to no additional individuals having been witnessed entering the water. Our last aircraft overflight this morning has revealed that no additional signs of distress or debris has been witnessed.” |
| Officials did not say what they believed to be the cause of the fire, only that the victims had been trapped by flames. According to regulations, the Conception was required to have smoke detectors and fire extinguishers, and officials said the vessel had been in compliance. | Officials did not say what they believed to be the cause of the fire, only that the victims had been trapped by flames. According to regulations, the Conception was required to have smoke detectors and fire extinguishers, and officials said the vessel had been in compliance. |
| “We’re sensitive to the fact that families have gathered today, some from outside the area, to bring their loved ones home and in many cases will only be faced with the ability to know that we recovered them,” said Mark A. Hartwig, Santa Barbara County’s fire chief. “And they will rely on us to do everything in our power to find out what happened aboard that vessel in the last moments of those family members’ lives.” | “We’re sensitive to the fact that families have gathered today, some from outside the area, to bring their loved ones home and in many cases will only be faced with the ability to know that we recovered them,” said Mark A. Hartwig, Santa Barbara County’s fire chief. “And they will rely on us to do everything in our power to find out what happened aboard that vessel in the last moments of those family members’ lives.” |
| Bob Hansen was sleeping in his fishing boat just a few hundred feet from the Conception when he was roused by panicked crew members who had escaped. | Bob Hansen was sleeping in his fishing boat just a few hundred feet from the Conception when he was roused by panicked crew members who had escaped. |
| “I could see the fire coming through holes on the side of the boat,” Mr. Hansen said. “There were these explosions every few beats. You can’t prepare yourself for that. It was horrendous.” | “I could see the fire coming through holes on the side of the boat,” Mr. Hansen said. “There were these explosions every few beats. You can’t prepare yourself for that. It was horrendous.” |
| The Conception had been anchored off the shore of Santa Cruz Island, the largest of the Channel Islands, a national park of caves and coves off the Southern California coast. | The Conception had been anchored off the shore of Santa Cruz Island, the largest of the Channel Islands, a national park of caves and coves off the Southern California coast. |
| The passengers had been on three-day diving expedition, and at the time of the fire were sleeping below deck in double-stacked bunk beds, which were tightly packed in one room, according to the website of Truth Aquatics, the Santa Barbara-based company that operated the vessel and for decades has taken passengers on diving trips around the islands. The sleeping quarters were open, with no locked doors and only curtains for privacy. | The passengers had been on three-day diving expedition, and at the time of the fire were sleeping below deck in double-stacked bunk beds, which were tightly packed in one room, according to the website of Truth Aquatics, the Santa Barbara-based company that operated the vessel and for decades has taken passengers on diving trips around the islands. The sleeping quarters were open, with no locked doors and only curtains for privacy. |
| A distress call that went out at about 3:15 a.m. Monday morning — less than an hour before the passengers were to be woken up for the day’s diving — was recorded by a Ventura County Marine radio channel: “Mayday! Mayday! Mayday!” a man’s voice yelled. “I can’t breathe!” he screamed. | A distress call that went out at about 3:15 a.m. Monday morning — less than an hour before the passengers were to be woken up for the day’s diving — was recorded by a Ventura County Marine radio channel: “Mayday! Mayday! Mayday!” a man’s voice yelled. “I can’t breathe!” he screamed. |
| As the sun rose on Monday, the boat, moored in Platts Harbor on the north side of Santa Cruz Island, was smoking but still afloat, according to a photograph posted by the Santa Barbara Fire Department. Later in the morning, it sank, just 20 yards from shore. | As the sun rose on Monday, the boat, moored in Platts Harbor on the north side of Santa Cruz Island, was smoking but still afloat, according to a photograph posted by the Santa Barbara Fire Department. Later in the morning, it sank, just 20 yards from shore. |
| Numerous federal agencies, including the Coast Guard, the National Transportation Safety Board and the National Park Service, and local law enforcement departments were involved in what officials said on Tuesday had become a recovery operation. Rescuers on Tuesday were planning to raise the boat — it is upside down in about 60 feet of water — and bring it to shore, after crafting a salvage plan to ensure the safety of responders. |