Bethel Island Boat Fire: Human Remains Found

Martinez CA

11 February, 2021

3:42 PM

Description

BETHEL ISLAND, CA — Investigators found human remains Wednesday on a boat that caught fire Sunday night and sank at the Bethel Island Marina, a Contra Costa County sheriff's spokesman said. Fire crews had responded around 10 p.m. Sunday to the marina on a report of a boat on fire and arrived to find the vessel covered in flames that had also spread to a dock awning, East Contra Costa Fire Protection Districtr Battalion Chief Craig Auzenne said. Firefighters were able to extinguish the blaze but learned a man lived on the boat and his vehicle was still parked at the marina. The roof and walls on part of the boat collapsed in on itself, and the boat itself ended up sinking around 1 a.m. Monday, Auzenne said. OSPR crew on-site today with @USCG & @CoCoSheriff assessing a vessel fire that occurred last night at Bethel Island. A contractor has been hired to conduct cleanup. No oiled #wildlife has been reported at this time. The cause of the fire is under investigation. pic.twitter.com/VrrOga2DHE— CDFW Spill Prevention & Response (@CalSpillWatch) February 9, 2021 Authorities from multiple agencies worked to raise the boat from the water, and on Wednesday sheriff's detectives and county coroner's officials were able to board the vessel and found the human remains there, sheriff's spokesman Jimmy Lee said. The coroner's office has not identified the man as of Thursday morning. The cause of the fire is under investigation and no oiled wildlife were reported as a result of the sunken boat, according to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife's Office of Spill Prevention and Response. Copyright ©2021 by Bay City News, Inc. —Republication, Rebroadcast or any other Reuse withoutthe express written consent of Bay City News, Inc. is prohibited.