5 rescued in Sinclair Inlet after boat catches fire

Around 10 p.m. on Monday evening multiple fire agencies responded to an explosion and subsequent fire onboard a tribal fishing vessel in Sinclair Inlet off of Port Orchard's Waterman Pier. All five crew members onboard the vessel were successfully rescued.

In a press release issued Tuesday, South Kitsap Fire and Rescue said that marine units from Bremerton and Bainbridge Island Fire Departments responded to the incident. SKFR has no marine units, but stood by for medical evaluation at the Port Orchard public boat launch, where crew members from the vessel were transported.

According to SKFR, although calls to the agency had reported potential injuries, no crew members from the fishing vessel were transported via ambulance.

An airlift was requested, but due to weather was unable to launch from Bremerton National Airport, said SKFR captain and public information officer Laine Desilets. Airlift services are weather dependent.

The Kitsap County Sheriff's Office is investigating what caused the explosion onboard the fishing vessel. In a statement issued Wednesday, the sheriff's office said that preliminary information indicates the explosion was accidental.

This article originally appeared on Kitsap Sun: 5 rescued in Sinclair Inlet after boat catches fire