Santa Barbara County Fire Department officials had a busy holiday on Dec. 25 after bystanders at Goleta Beach reported a capsized boat floating about a quarter-mile offshore east of the Goleta pier. The county deployed an emergency response team made up of a water rescue team, three engine companies, and an air operations helicopter with rescue swimmers aboard.
According to a press release from the fire department, the bow of the capsized boat could be seen bobbing offshore by the pier. The water rescue team used jet skis to search the boat and surrounding area, while personnel in the helicopter scanned a string of debris trailing to the east. The rescuers found several personal belongings in the floating debris, but no victims.
This article appears in Jan 1-8, 2009.