Coast Guard Sector Juneau, good Samaritan crew respond to vessel fire near Craig

JUNEAU, Alaska - Coast Guard Sector Juneau and a good Samaritan crew coordinated a rescue of two geoduck divers after their commercial fishing vessel caught fire 17 miles southwest of Craig in Port Santa Cruz Bay at 2:18 p.m. Wednesday.

The good Samaritan vessel Death Barge was navigating through the waterway when they noticed the 34-foot commercial fishing vessel Izzy B was on fire and notified the Coast Guard.

The crew of two were reported to be in the water fishing for gooey duck when their vessel caught fire. The good Samaritan vessel BJ was nearby and rescued the two crewmembers from the water.

"The Coast Guard doesn't have the resources to patrol everywhere at once so we count on our partners including, good Samaritans, to be there when we can't,'' said Melissa Bert, Coast Guard Sector Juneau commander. "In this case the good Samaritan made the difference between life or death."

A Coast Guard MH-60 Jayhawk rescue helicopter crew will conduct an overflight at daylight Thursday.

The crewmembers reported 300 gallons of diesel and 1,000 pounds of gooey duck on board.

The fishing vessel Izzy B is homeported in Seattle.

The cause of the fire is under investigation.

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