HOUSTON – The Coast Guard responded to a boat fire this morning in Galveston Bay.
At 8:24 a.m., the Houston Pilots notified the Coast Guard that a boat was on fire in the vicinity of Eagle Point. The Coast Guard dispatched one HH-65C helicopter from Air Station Houston and two rescue boats from Station Galveston to the fire. The Galveston County Sheriff’s Office also sent a marine unit.
Other fishing vessels in the area removed the two people from the 30-foot fishing vessel Captain Orlando. The fire currently is smoldering and witnesses reported seeing small explosions from the fishing vessel as it started to sink. The Coast Guard is enforcing a 200-yard safety zone around the sinking boat.
No pollution has been reported and the fishing vessel remains outside the Houston Ship Channel.