Fire erupts off Whidbey Island and boater flees in dinghy

Published 1:30 am Friday, September 22, 2017

Associated Press

COUPEVILLE — One person is safe after the Coast Guard responded to a massive boat fire off Whidbey Island.

The boat was about nine miles offshore, west of Point Partridge on Thursday night.

A thick plume of black smoke could be seen for several miles.

The Coast Guard says one person who was on the boat made it safely away from the fire in a dinghy.

That person was picked up by a passing boat and taken to John Wayne Marina in Sequim.

It was not known if the boater had any injuries or what caused the fire.

The Coast Guard set up a safety zone around the burning boat.