6 rescued after boat catches fire off New Jersey shore
OCEAN CITY, N.J. (AP/WTXF) -- Six people aboard a boat that caught fire off the New Jersey shore have been rescued by the Coast Guard.
The agency says someone aboard the 41-foot pleasure craft called them to report the fire around 4:45 p.m. Sunday. The boat was in the area of Great Egg Harbor Inlet near Ocean City.
The coast guard sent a 29-foot response boat to the scene, and crew members safely removed all six people a short time later. They were taken to a marina in Ocean City, but their names have not been released.
No injuries were reported.
A boat-towing service extinguished the fire and pulled the boat back to shore.
"Fires happen on boats more often than you think," said Petty Officer 3rd Class Andrew Redilla, coxswain during the case. "A fire on the water is very serious, since help can be far away. Always check your fire extinguishers before you get underway to make sure they're ready if you need them."
The cause of the fire remains under investigation.