5 Rescued From Burning Boat Near Pictured Rocks In MI: Officials

ALGER COUNTY, MI — Five people were rescued Saturday from a burning boat in Lake Superior near Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, according to the Maquette Coast Guard Station.

Coast guard officials found the 30-foot cabin cruiser burning near the shoreline at 10 a.m. while conducting a routine safety check near Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, officials said.

While officials approached the vessel, the cruiser's owner tried using a fire extinguisher to put out the fire, but it didn't work and the fire quickly spread across the vessel, officials said.

The Station Marquette boat crew then rescued all five members from the burning vessel and took them to the hospital, where they checked out with no injuries, officials said.

Almost immediately after officials pulled the crew from the burning vessel, the cabin cruiser was completely engulfed in flames and burned to the waterline, officials said.

Investigators determined the fire started in the engine compartment.

A team of Pollution Responders from Sector Sault Ste Marie arrived at the scene shortly later and determined all the diesel fuel that was on board the vessel burned away and there was no pollution threat.

Officials reached out to a commercial salvage company to remove the vessel's remains from the lakeshore.