Six minors and five adults jumped into the water after a recreational vessel caught fire near the Texas City Dike during Memorial Day. The rescue occurred without incident.
Eleven people were rescued unharmed after jumping into the water from a recreational boat that caught fire Monday in Galveston Bay, near the Texas City Dike, authorities said.
The fire was reported around 1:58 p.m. on Monday, May 25. According to information from the United States Coast Guard, six minors and five adults escaped from a 38-foot recreational vessel after the fire spread aboard.
Passengers were picked up by another vessel
The eleven people were assisted by another vessel in the area. The rescue occurred at approximately 2:10 p.m., a few minutes after the passengers jumped into the water.
After the initial aid, the passengers were transferred to a 45-foot Coast Guard response boat, assigned to Station Galveston. The agency subsequently transported the eleven people to the Galveston Yacht Basin.
No injuries were reported, according to available information.
The fire occurred near the Texas City Dike
The vessel caught fire near the Texas City Dike, an area frequented by residents and visitors who boat, fish, or spend time along the water in Galveston Bay.
Images published by area residents showed the boat engulfed in flames, with dark smoke visible from various nearby points, including Galveston Island and the Bolivar Peninsula.
The vessel appeared to be identified with the name Excalibur, according to images circulated by people who were in the area.
Coast Guard responded after rescue alert from Texas City Dispatch
The Coast Guard confirmed that the incident was reported by Texas City Dispatch, which triggered the agency’s response.
The Galveston Fire Department was also alerted shortly after the fire began. A battalion chief went to Pelican Island to observe the situation and verify whether the case fell within his jurisdiction.
Available information indicates that local teams coordinated with Texas City first responders and the Coast Guard during the emergency.
The boat was consumed almost to the waterline
Images taken from the area showed flames erupting from the vessel’s cabin and a column of black smoke over the bay.
According to information gathered by local authorities, the boat was nearly consumed by the fire and reduced almost to the waterline.
There was no immediate report on what caused the fire. It was not detailed whether the vessel posed any environmental risk after the fire.
Memorial Day tends to increase water activity
The fire occurred during Memorial Day, a time when recreational boats tend to increase in Galveston Bay and other coastal areas of southeast Texas.
The Coast Guard maintains operations in the Galveston area, where it responds to maritime emergencies, navigation incidents, medical evacuations, distressed vessels, and reports of people in danger in the water.
In this case, the intervention of another vessel allowed the eleven passengers to be pulled from the water before being handed over to Coast Guard personnel.
Authorities did not report injuries among the passengers
As of the latest available information, the eleven rescued individuals were transported to the Galveston Yacht Basin with no reported injuries.
The Coast Guard did not immediately report the cause of the fire, nor whether there would be a formal investigation into the origin of the flames.
The case was recorded as a rescue in Galveston Bay involving six minors, five adults, a burning recreational vessel, and Coast Guard response near the Texas City Dike.
