16 People Rescued from Burning Boat in Chicago

By: Justin Thompson-Gee Facebook | Twitter

Posted: Jul 4, 2015 10:14 PM CDT

CHICAGO — The Coast Guard rescued 16 people from a burning boat north of Navy Pier, near the Water Filtration Plant in Chicago, Saturday.

Watchstanders at Coast Guard Station Calumet Harbor received a call at about 2:30 p.m. over Ch-16 marine radio about the fire on board a 35 - foot pleasure craft.

The watchstander directed a Coast Guard crew, already underway on patrol in the area aboard a 25-foot response boat, to respond. They arrived on scene in minutes.

All 16 people, including three in the water, were brought onto the Coast Guard boat.

A Chicago Fire Department boat arrived on scene to put out the fire.

All 16 people were transferred to Belmont Harbor by the Coast Guard. The damaged vessel was towed to Belmont Harbor by a commercial tow boat service.

There were no injuries or medical issues.

The cause of the fire is under investigation.