The Daily Breeze
LONG BEACH, Calif. — Long Beach firefighters plucked two people from the ocean Tuesday after they jumped from their burning powerboat into the water to escape the flames.
The SOS came in at 12:51p.m. for a 20-foot powerboat on fire about a mile outside the breakwater, said Long Beach Fire Department Battalion Chief Frank Hayes.
The first rescue boat on scene found the craft nearly consumed by flames and two people bobbing alongside in the ocean, Hayes said.
Firefighters dove into the water and pulled the boaters to safety, then doused the flames on the burning vessel.
After first-degree burns were noted on one of the boater’s forearms and thumb, an ambulance was called and the injured boater was taken to a local hospital for minor injuries, Hayes said.
The charred boat was towed into the isolation dock at Alamitos Bay, Hayes said.
Names of the boaters were not available and the cause of the fire was still under investigation Tuesday afternoon, he added.
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