California Boat Fire
Follow the latest California Boat Fire news, videos, and analysis from ABC News.
8 months ago

Captain sentenced to 4 years in prison for boat fire that killed 34 people

A federal jury had found Jerry Boylan, 70, guilty of seaman's manslaughter in November 2023 in connection with the deadly boat fire.
8 months ago
In this photo provided by the Ventura County Fire Department, VCFD firefighters respond to a fire aboard the Conception dive boat fire in the Santa Barbara Channel off the coast of Southern California on Sept. 2, 2019.
5 years ago

Boat owner served with lawsuit over fire that killed 34

The fire on the Conception diving boat killed 34 people last September.
5 years ago
The dive boat Conception is engulfed in flames after a deadly fire broke out aboard the commercial scuba diving vessel off the Southern California Coast, Sept. 2, 2019.
5 years ago

Entire crew was asleep when boat fire ignited killing 34: NTSB preliminary report

Divers have recovered the body of the final missing victim of a boat fire off the Southern California coast that killed 34 people last week.
5 years ago
The burned hull of the Conception is brought to the surface by a salvage team, Thursday, Sept. 12, 2019, off Santa Cruz Island, Calif., in the Santa Barbara Channel in Southern California.
5 years ago

Entire crew asleep during California boat fire: NTSB

The report indicates no night watchman was roaming the three-deck vessel when the fire broke out.
5 years ago
Entire crew asleep during California boat fire: NTSB
5 years ago

Search warrants served on owner in dive boat disaster that killed 34

The chartered dive boat caught fire near Southern California's Channel Islands.
5 years ago
An officer from the FBI underwater search and evidence response team speaks with a California law enforcement officer near a Long Beach Police vessel in Santa Barbara, Calif., Sept. 3, 2019. Authorities suspended suspended the search for survivors of a scuba diving boat disaster in Santa Cruz Island.
5 years ago

Authorities serve search warrants for owner of boat where 34 died

Investigators are focusing on the layout of the boat and a possible design flaw of the escape hatch in the sleeping quarters.
5 years ago
VIDEO: Authorities serve search warrants for owner of boat where 34 died
5 years ago

Rescuers searching for 4 crew members after cargo ship catches fire

Twenty people have been safely removed from a 656-foot vessel named the Golden Ray after it became disabled on the St. Simons Sound off the coast of Brunswick, Georgia, around 2 a.m. Sunday.
5 years ago
Twenty people have been safely removed from a 656-foot vessel named the Golden Ray after it became disabled on the St. Simons Sound off the coast of Brunswick, Georgia, around 2 a.m. Sunday.
5 years ago

Owner of boat in deadly fire speaks out

The Conception owner Glen Fritzler said the crew says they tried to save passengers on the boat but the flames pushed them back.
5 years ago
VIDEO: Owner of boat in deadly fire speaks out
5 years ago

NTSB expects full report on California boat fire in 12 to 18 months

Authorities with the National Transportation and Safety Board are investigating the cause of the California boat fire that killed 34 people.
5 years ago
A boat burns off the coast of Santa Cruz Island, Calif., Sept. 2, 2019.
5 years ago

Surviving crew members of deadly boat fire describe harrowing escape

Only five people on the Conception survived after the boat caught on fire.
5 years ago
A boat burns off the coast of Santa Cruz Island, Calif., Sept. 2, 2019.
5 years ago

Dive boat crew members detail harrowing escape from deadly inferno

The NTSB reported the crew said they desperately tried to get to the 34 passengers sleeping below deck, but the doors were overcome by flames.
5 years ago
VIDEO: Dive boat crew members detail harrowing escape from deadly inferno
5 years ago

Authorities have recovered 33 victims killed in dive-boat inferno

The big question is what sparked the early-morning blaze that trapped the victims in their sleeping quarters below deck; the victims included an engineer and marine biologist.
5 years ago
VIDEO: Authorities have recovered 33 victims killed in dive-boat inferno
5 years ago

33 bodies recovered following dive-boat fire, 1 missing: Officials

Investigators '100%' certain they will find cause of deadly dive-boat fire.
5 years ago
A woman lights a candle in Santa Barbara Harbor at a makeshift memorial for victims of the Conception boat fire on Sept. 3, 2019 in Santa Barbara, Calif.
5 years ago

Dozens of bodies recovered after diving boat fire off California coast

33 bodies have been discovered, 1 is still missing after the 75-foot commercial vessel caught on fire.
5 years ago
VIDEO: Dozens of bodies recovered after diving boat fire off California coast
5 years ago

Captain of sister ship in California boat fire defends crew reputation

The remains of 20 victims were recovered after a 75-foot charter diving boat, named the Conception, caught fire off Santa Cruz Island on Monday.
5 years ago
The remains of 20 victims were recovered after a 75-foot charter diving boat, named the Conception, caught fire off Santa Cruz Island on Monday.
5 years ago

Brother of victim speaks out after deadly boat fire

The brother of marine biologist and diving instructor Kristy Harmeling told ABC News his sister was "very serious about safety" and has dove "thousands of times."
5 years ago
VIDEO: Brother of victim speaks out after deadly boat fire
5 years ago

Brother of boat fire victim speaks out: 'Cherish every moment, breath by breath'

Kristy Finstad is among dozens of people believed to have died aboard a dive boat that burst into flames early Monday off the coast of Southern California.
5 years ago
In this photo provided by the Ventura County Fire Department, firefighters respond to a boat fire off the coast of southern California, Sept. 2, 2019
5 years ago

Remains of 20 victims recovered in California boat fire, police say

The search continues for those unaccounted for, officials said.
5 years ago
A pair of diving fins and flowers at a memorial wall near the Truth Aquatics moorings where the boat that burned and sank off the Santa Cruz islands, was based in Santa Barbara, Calif., on Sept. 2, 2019.
5 years ago

All 34 passengers aboard burning dive boat presumed dead

Authorities said the sleeping area had no doors and the passengers were trapped by the inferno.
5 years ago
VIDEO: All 34 passengers aboard burning dive boat presumed dead
5 years ago

California boat fire rescue suspended after no signs of additional survivors

The remains of 20 people -- 11 female and nine male -- were found after a boat caught fire off California's Santa Cruz Island, police announced on Tuesday.
5 years ago
California boat fire rescue suspended after no signs of additional survivors
5 years ago

Dozens killed in California boat fire

Investigators are continuing to work to recover remains from a fire on a diving excursion boat.
5 years ago
VIDEO: Dozens killed in California boat fire
5 years ago

Desperate search for survivors after deadly boat fire

Will Carr reports on the diving boat carrying 39 people off California’s Santa Cruz Island that caught fire and has so far left eight dead.
5 years ago
VIDEO: Good Samaritan describes scene of deadly boat fire
5 years ago

Good Samaritan describes scene of deadly boat fire

Bob Hansen speaks to "GMA" about the incident off of California's Santa Cruz Island as rescuers continue to search for survivors.
5 years ago
VIDEO: Good Samaritan describes scene of deadly boat fire
5 years ago

'You can only imagine the horror': 8 bodies found, 26 people missing after boat fire

Rescue efforts are underway for more than 30 people on a boat on fire near Santa Cruz Island, California, the Coast Guard confirmed.
5 years ago
A boat burns off the coast of Santa Cruz Island, Calif., Sept. 2, 2019.
5 years ago

Desperate search for survivors after boat catches fire

Five crew members were able to leap off the boat during the fire; four bodies were recovered from the scene, according to the Coast Guard.
5 years ago
VIDEO: Desperate search for survivors after boat catches fire
5 years ago

30 people missing after boat catches fire

Rescue efforts are underway for more than 30 people on a boat on fire near Santa Cruz Island, California, the Coast Guard confirmed.
5 years ago
VIDEO: 30 people missing after boat catches fire
5 years ago

34 people missing after boat catches fire

Ventura County officials "fear numerous fatalities" as rescue operations are underway for boat on fire near Santa Cruz Island, California, Monday morning.
5 years ago
Ventura County officials "fear numerous fatalities" as rescue operations are underway for boat on fire near Santa Cruz Island, California, Monday morning.
5 years ago

Officials 'fear numerous fatalities' in fire on boat

Ventura County officials "fear numerous fatalities" as rescue operations are underway for boat on fire near Santa Cruz Island, California, public information officer Bill Nash told ABC News.
5 years ago
Ventura County officials "fear numerous fatalities" as rescue operations are underway for boat on fire near Santa Cruz Island, California, Monday morning, public information officer Bill Nash told ABC News.