NewsLocal News

Actions

Dive boat fire: All 6 crew members were asleep when fatal blaze erupted, preliminary NTSB report says

Posted
and last updated

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. — The National Transportation Safety Board says all six crew members were asleep when a fire broke out in a scuba diving boat off the coast of the Ventura County coast, killing 34 people.

The NTSB released a two-page preliminary report Thursday. Authorities have said they were investigating if there was a night watchman on duty at the time.

The report comes a day after divers recovered the remains of the last missing victim, one of dozens who were trapped below deck.

The Coast Guard has released additional safety recommendations in the wake of the Sept. 2 tragedy, such as limiting the unsupervised charging of lithium-ion batteries and the use of power strips and extension cords.

The FBI, Coast Guard and the U.S. Attorney's Office in Los Angeles are conducting a criminal investigation.

,

Weather

Daily Forecast

View Hourly Forecast

Day

Conditions

HI / LO

Precip

Monday

03/30/2026

Partly Cloudy

87° / 65°

0%

Tuesday

03/31/2026

PM Showers

71° / 55°

46%

Wednesday

04/01/2026

Sunny

75° / 55°

9%

Thursday

04/02/2026

AM Clouds/PM Sun

71° / 47°

14%

Friday

04/03/2026

Sunny

77° / 50°

2%

Saturday

04/04/2026

Sunny

85° / 54°

0%

Sunday

04/05/2026

Partly Cloudy

88° / 59°

0%

Monday

04/06/2026

Mostly Sunny

86° / 56°

0%