Boat crews of the US Coast Guard and partner agencies responded to a boat fire at Quartermaster Harbor Yacht Club on Vashon Island, Washington, on Monday, March 29.
At 04:16 local time, watchstanders at Coast Guard Sector Puget Sound received notification from dispatchers at Valley Communications Center that two yachts were on fire at the end of the marina's south pier and local fire department personnel were on scene.
At approximately 04:30, a Coast Guard Station Seattle response boat-medium boat crew responded and an Air Station Port Angeles aircrew aboard an MH-65 Dolphin helicopter diverted from routine operations at King County International Airport.
Once on scene, the coast guard boat crew began enforcing a 450-metre safety zone while boat crews from the Vashon Island Fire Department and the Tacoma Fire Department extinguished the flames. The helicopter aircrew provided aerial support and information regarding observable pollution in the water.
At 07:30, the Vashon Island fire chief reported that no one was aboard the two vessels, which later sank at the pier.
The helicopter aircrew reported a 36- by 18-metre visible sheen in and around the marina.
At 08:00, coast guard pollution responders from Sector Puget Sound were en route to the scene.
Containment and cleanup operations were still ongoing as of 15:30 on Monday. However, the safety zone is no longer being enforced.
