34 feared dead after boat fire

[Kings Gambit]

Well, it's hard to imagine there would be a locked door between the galley and the below decks all night with passengers below. How would one get to the head, which from the layout is fwd in the shower room? Up the stairs to the galley, then down the stairs on the other side of that bulkhead? There must be a hatch aft, if anything at all, that would be/could be locked. Maybe we'll find out at 1000 PDT; sheriff's news conference.

 

[Scott T-Bird]

Has it been considered that an explosion could have killed or incapacitated all of the passengers before they even had a chance to escape?

 

[jviss]

Has it been considered that an explosion could have killed or incapacitated all of the passengers before they even had a chance to escape?

The bodies initially recovered had symptoms consistent with drowning.

 

[Kings Gambit]

According to the press conference, no locked areas; smoke detectors, alarms, and fire-fighting equipment on the vessel. Explosions reported are believed to have occurred after the fire started as the boat burned; not, at this point, regarded as the cause of the fire. Ongoing investigation by SBC Fire & Rescue as to what happened; so, no more details yet. Search & Rescue suspended; now Search & Recovery. Nine men; 11 women recovered. Some victims still inside the vessel.

 

[Rick D]

The Sheriff also confirmed there was an escape hatch but "it was also blocked by fire".

 

[Rick486]

When I had the H356 at one point I had a moment of clarity about the aft berth. Basically the only way out was the door which led to the galley and then up the companionway. If that door is blocked you are screwed. So I became very adherent to CO detectors and fire extinguishers. Nevertheless, You really need another way out. So my backup plan was to blow thru the flimsy aft bulkhead into the rear lazarette and out. If I had that boat today, and after this incident, I would drill doing that.

Interesting. In our 2007 44DS aft stateroom there are two doors and one large overhead hatch which kinda looks like a code requirement. I wonder if those were put in for just that reason......

 

[shemandr]

Interesting. In our 2007 44DS aft stateroom there are two doors and one large overhead hatch which kinda looks like a code requirement. I wonder if those were put in for just that reason......

On the 356 to exit the aft stateroom you go thru the galley. Several have posted the galley is an area where fire could start. The electric panel is just across the companionway including battery switch and windlass wiring.
This incident was a horrible tragedy. I hope it has raised folks awareness of this issue.

 

[Kings Gambit]

A recently-updated article reported the vessel, Conception, as being wooden.

 

[shemandr]

Yeah, and I noted that it seems the fire was in the forward part of the vessel since the topsides are burned out in that area. I would have expected the fire to start in the aft areas - engines etc.