JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- The Coat Guard rescued four fishermen after their commercial fishing vessel caught fire near Nassau Sound.
The fire happened Monday morning off Big Talbot Island State Park.
A good Samaritan contacted the Coast Guard about the boat being on fire. The 79-foot Ingrid Louis was approximately three miles east of Nassau Sound when it caught fire.
Coast Guard operational watchstanders from Sector Jacksonville were able to contact the crew of the fishing vessel. Watchstanders had the crew activate their Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon or EPIRB. The EPIRB was activated to provide rescuers with an exact location of the vessel. Once it was activated, the crew evacuated the vessel, waiting for rescue crews in a life raft.
A boatcrew aboard a 45-foot Response Boat - Medium from Station Mayport was able to locate the life raft and the four fishermen. The rescue crew brought them on board the boat and brought them to Station Mayport to receive medical treatment.
Three of the crew declined medical treatment and the vessel's captain was treated for smoke inhalation.
A Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department is helping put out the fire aboard the Ingrid Louis.
The Nassau County Sheriff's Office and Coast Guard Air Station Savannah, Georiga, also responded to assist with rescue efforts.
The Coast Guard said at this time the cause of the fire is unknown.
First Coast News