At least 8 dead in boat fire off California coast

By Mike Hayes, Fernando Alfonso III and Amanda Wills, CNN

Updated 8:19 a.m. ET, September 3, 2019
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8:52 p.m. ET, September 2, 2019

26 people are still missing from the Conception

From CNN's Alexandra Meeks

According to US Coast Guard Lt. Commander Stephen Brickey, these are the latest numbers on the boat fire investigation:

  • 39 total people were on board, 33 were passengers and 6 were crew members
  • 5 of the 6 crew members were rescued
  • 4 bodies have been recovered
  • An additional 4 bodies are visible on the ocean floor near the sunken vessel
  • 26 people are still unaccounted for 
"Our hearts go out to the families of the victims of this terrible tragedy," Santa Barbara County Sheriff Bill Brown said at a press conference Monday.

USCG confirms search and rescue efforts will continue through the night and at least into Tuesday morning.

Sheriff Brown says it is unclear whether there was a black box on the vessel. The boat has sank and is inverted on the ocean floor in approximately 60 feet of water, according to USCG officials. 

8:04 p.m. ET, September 2, 2019

US Coast Guard releases new photo of response to boat fire

From CNN's Chris Boyette

The Coast Guard released a new photo showing a rescue boat dousing the Conception with water.

7:37 p.m. ET, September 2, 2019

Rescue crews locate 4 more bodies near dive boat

From CNN's Alexandra Meeks

The bodies of four additional victims have been located on the ocean floor in close proximity to the vessel, said Santa Barbara County Sheriff Bill Brown.

Four other victims who had been previously recovered were identified as two adult males and two adult females, Brown added.

Dive teams were still attempting to locate and recover additional remains on Monday, officials said.

Santa Barbara County Sheriff Bill Brown spoke to reporters Monday afternoon.
Santa Barbara County Sheriff Bill Brown spoke to reporters Monday afternoon. CNN

7:05 p.m. ET, September 2, 2019

Tributes are emerging at Santa Barbara Harbor

From CNN's Stephanie Elam

As crews continue searching for the Conception's missing passengers, flowers and other memorials are being set up at the Santa Barbara Harbor.

Earlier, Ventura County spokesman Bill Nash confirmed there were multiple fatalities aboard the boat but he did not have the exact number of casualties.

5:34 p.m. ET, September 2, 2019

Four bodies have been recovered from dive boat

From CNN's Chris Boyette

The bodies of four people were recovered by authorities Monday, hours after the 75-foot commercial diving boat caught fire off the coast of Santa Cruz Island, said US Coast Guard Lt. Cmdr. Stephen Brickey.

Their causes of death have not been determined, he added.

5:38 p.m. ET, September 2, 2019

Mayday call dispatcher asked Conception crewmember: "Can you get back onboard and unlock the boat?"

From CNN's Amanda Watts

In audio from a mayday call from the Conception, a Coast Guard dispatcher from Los Angeles questioned a Conception crew member about whether passengers were locked onboard the vessel.

"Can you get back onboard and unlock the boat?" the dispatcher asked.

In another question, the Coast Guard asked if there was an "escape hatch for any of the people onboard."

In audio from Broadcastify, the Coast Guard dispatcher also questioned the crewmember about firefighting equipment onboard.

"You don’t have any firefighting gear at all? No fire extinguishers or anything?” 

The crewmember’s responses are not audible in the recording.

Earlier today, Truth Aquatics, the company that owns the Conception, did not provide comment. CNN is continually reaching out.

Captain Monica Rochester with the US Coast Guard said earlier today that “the vessel has been in full compliance.

"We are working deliberately with the vessel owner/operator who is with us at the time," she said.

2:54 p.m. ET, September 2, 2019

California congresswoman says she is still "hoping" for survivors

From CNN's Sheena Jones

In an interview outside of USCG in Oxnard, California Rep. Julia Brownley called the boat fire this morning “devastating."

 “We still are hoping that there could still be some survivors,” Brownley said.

A command center is being set up in Santa Barbara for the family members of victims, she told reporters.

1:17 p.m. ET, September 2, 2019

Crewmember wheeled to ambulance after rescue

A photo shows a member of the Conception's crew is wheeled towards an ambulance on a stretcher after escaping the burning boat off coast of California.

Five members of the boat's crew were rescued after it caught fire, the Coast Guard confirmed. Thirty-four of the 39 people on board are still missing.

The five who were rescued were crew members who were awake above deck and jumped into the water. Everyone else on board was sleeping below deck.

Here's the photo:

12:44 p.m. ET, September 2, 2019

NTSB is sending a team to California to investigate boat fire

From CNN's Greg Wallace

The National Transportation Safety Board is sending a go-team to California to investigate the boat fire. Board Member Jennifer Homendy will lead the team that is investigating the incident.