Search Suspended For Boat Fire Victim Off Carlsbad Coast

CARLSBAD, CA — The U.S. Coast Guard suspended its search Friday for the owner of a boat that caught fire and sank off the coast of Carlsbad.

The owner and resident of the 50-foot vessel Relentless remained missing.

"This morning I made the decision to suspend the active search for survivors, which is always an extremely difficult one to make," said Cmdr. Joseph Parker, Sector San Diego's deputy commander.

Previous coverage: Boat Catches Fire, Sinks Off Coast Of Carlsbad

The fire was reported around 9 a.m. Thursday on the boat about seven miles off the coast of Carlsbad. The boat sustained significant damage and eventually sank in an area where the ocean is 1,800 feet deep, according to the Coast Guard.

The Oceanside Harbor Master confirmed the boat had left Oceanside and was headed toward Carlsbad Thursday morning. The owner of the boat lived aboard the vessel and was presumed to have been alone.

The Coast Guard and first responders from Encinitas and Oceanside searched the area for 21 hours, covering more than 600 square miles. The Coast Guard suspended its search efforts at about 8 a.m. Friday.

"The Coast Guard and our partners extend our deepest condolences to the victim’s family, who remain in our thoughts and prayers," Parker said. "I am indebted to our Coast Guard crews and mission partners; Oceanside Police Department and Encinitas Lifeguards, who always put forward maximum effort to save lives at sea."