CT Family Helps Rescue 6 From Burning Boat In Florida: Report

FORT LAUDERDALE, FL — A Connecticut family vacationing in South Florida this week will return home to New England as heroes after they helped rescue a group of people caught in a boat fire Monday morning off the coast of Fort Lauderdale, according to media reports.

According to Fox 61, Coast Guard officials said the Barriger family was fishing on a charter boat, the Lady Pamela II, when they noticed the 45-foot charter boat that had caught fire. Officials said six people were on board the burning vessel, which was located just a mile away from the Lady Pamela II.

Officials said the fire began in the engine area of the boat and quickly spread to the rest of the vessel, Fox 61 reported. Captain Gene Checci was able to pull up alongside the burning boat, and the family and crew members of the Lady Pamela II rescued all six occupants.

According to Checci, the boat went from smoke to fire within three to four minutes, and the occupants were pulled to safety moments before the burning vessel burst into flames, ABC Action News reported.

Fort Lauderdale Fire Rescue responded to the scene and tried to save the vessel, however it had already sunk 15 feet below and is considered a total loss, according to News 7 Boston. As a precaution, Fort Lauderdale Beach was temporarily closed from Lifeguard Station 1 through 12 but was later reopened.

According to ABC Action News, crews are working with a salvage company in an attempt to figure out what to do with the damaged boat.

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