Virginia Beach yacht, 75-foot, catches fire, 3 people on board rescued in dramatic fashion
The yacht was towed by the Virginia Beach Fire Department, assisting the Coast Guard, to Fort Story, a military base on Virginia Beach.
Saman Shafiq
USA TODAY
#Breaking @USCG and @VirginiaBeachFD responding to boat fire at Fort Story, #VirginiaBeach. 3 boaters safe.
— USCG Mid-Atlantic (@uscgmidatlantic) March 8, 2024
A 75-foot-yacht off the coast of Cape Henry in Virginia Beach caught fire, forcing its occupants to jump into the water, the U.S. Coast Guard said.
Mayday call for “a recreational vessel on fire” came in around 3:30 a.m. Friday, a spokesperson of the U.S. Coast Guard told USA TODAY over the phone.
Motor Vessel Savage, a 75-foot-yacht, was on fire about two miles off the coast of Cape Henry.
Three adults who were on board the vessel jumped into the water and were later rescued by a pilot boat, said U.S.C.G.
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Three people aboard jumped into waters, rescued from burning yacht
“All three were picked up within approximately 10 minutes by pilot boats and no injuries are recorded,” said the U.S.C.G.
The Virginia Beach Fire Department, assisting the Coast Guard, towed the boat to Fort Story, a military base on Virginia Beach, where it is still smoldering.
The fire department is fighting the fire from the shore, said the spokesperson, adding that the vessel is against a rock. The U.S.C.G. is also monitoring the situation, with a boat on scene.
The cause of the fire has not yet been determined, said the U.S.C.G.
Saman Shafiq is a trending news reporter for USA TODAY. Reach her at [email protected] and follow her on X, formerly Twitter, at @saman_shafiq7.
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