Students, teachers and families among presumed dead in California boat fire

By Deputy Chief EditorSeptember 4, 2019

175 2 minutes read

Officials believe none of the 34 passengers onboard the Conception escaped (Picture: Facebook/Getty)

High school students, a teacher and his child, and a loving family celebrating their fathers birthday are among those presumed to have died in a boat fire in California.

Officials believe all 34 passengers on a scuba diving excursion off the coast of Santa Cruz died after the fire broke out just after 3am on Monday, causing the boat to sink.

The flames spread so rapidly they blocked off both exits out of the lower deck, where passengers and one crew member were sleeping in tight quarters.

Santa Barbara County Sheriff Bill Brown said they believe no one would have had the chance to escape due to how quickly the blaze developed.

Rescue searches have ended without any being found alive, after 20 bodies were pulled from the vessel and four to six others have been spotted on the ocean floor.

It is not yet known what started the fire onboard the 75 foot boat, named the Conception, which had embarked on a three-day diving excursion.

Authorities have not released victims names but victims range from teenagers to people in their 60s.

Pictured: Susana Solano Rosas (left) with daughter Nicole Storm Quitasol. Mother Susana Solano Rosas posts a message on Facebook as three of her daughters remain missing following the September 2, 2019 dive boat fire off of Santa Barbara, California. Daughters Nicole Storm Quitasol, Angela Rose Quitasol and Evanmichel Solano Quitasol, and the girls' father, Michel Storm Quitasol - were all aboard the boat and are still missing as of September 3, 2019. — Susana Solano Rosas wrote on Facebook that her daughter Nicole Storm Quitasol and sisters were missing (Picture: Facebook)

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Angela Rose Quitasol (far right), Evan Quitasol (second from right) and Nicole Storm Quitasol (second from left) were killed in the September 2, 2019 dive boat fire off of Santa Barbara, California. Some of their other family members - the girls' father, Michel Storm Quitasol and stepmother Fernisa Sison (not pictured) - were also aboard the boat and are missing. Other sister Christina Quitasol, far left, did not go on the trip. — Angela Rose Quitasol (far right), Evan Quitasol (second from right) and Nicole Storm Quitasol (second from left) have not yet been found (Picture: Facebook)

SANTA BARBARA, CALIFORNIA - SEPTEMBER 03: Candles are lit in Santa Barbara Harbor at a makeshift memorial for victims of the Conception boat fire on September 3, 2019 in Santa Barbara, California. Authorities believe none of the 34 people below deck survived after the commercial scuba diving ship caught fire and sank, while anchored near Santa Cruz Island, in the early morning hours of September 2. Five crew members survived. (Photo by Mario Tama/Getty Images) — A makeshift memorial has been set up in Santa Barbara Harbor (Picture: Getty)

Pictured: Susana Solano Rosas (right) with daughters Angela Rose Quitasol (center) and Nicole Storm Quitasol. Mother Susana Solano Rosas posts a message on Facebook as three of her daughters remain missing following the September 2, 2019 dive boat fire off of Santa Barbara, California. Daughters Nicole Storm Quitasol, Angela Rose Quitasol and Evanmichel Solano Quitasol, and the girls' father, Michel Storm Quitasol - were all aboard the boat and are still missing as of September 3, 2019. — Susana said it was with a broken heart that she announced her daughters were on the vessel (Picture: Facebook)

Susana Rosas of Stockton, revealed with a broken heart in a Facebook post that her three daughters Evan, Nicole, and Angela Rose Quitasol, were onboard and are still missing.

She said they were celebrating their dad Michael Quitasols birthday along with stepmum Fernisa Sison during the Labor Day weekend trip.

The womens stepdad Chris Rosas told the Los Angeles Times that just two weeks ago Angela was the maid of honour at her sister Evitas wedding, while Evan and Nicole were bridesmaids.

Angela was a science teacher at a Stockton middle school and was wonderful with kids, and Nicole, who worked as a bartender, loved the outdoors, loved animals, loved and lived by the sea.

Evan was a nurse at St. Josephs Medical Center of Stockton, where her father and stepmum Sison had worked after attending nursing school.

Rosas told the Times: Theyre the most kind, most loving people Ive ever met — and Im not just saying that because theyre family.

Pictured: Fernisa Sison, stepmother to the three girls who were killed, is also missing, along with the girls' father, Michael Quitasol. Sisters Angela Rose Quitasol, Nicole Storm Quitasol and Evan Quitasol were killed in the September 2, 2019 dive boat fire off of Santa Barbara, California. The girls' father, Michel Storm Quitasol, and his wife, Fernisa Sison, were also aboard the boat and are missing. — The womens father Michael Quitasol and stepmum Fernisa Sison are still missing (Picture: Facebook)

Kristy Finstad Kristy Finstad was helping to lead the dive excursion that ended in a deadly boat fire Monday ? and her desperate brother said the free-spirited marine biologist was still missing 10 hours later. ?We?re still waiting to hear, unfortunately. It?s not looking good,? brother Brett Harmeling, 31, told the Daily News. ?She?d be the person who could make it if it?s possible. She could hold her breath for an insane amount of time. It just doesn?t sound like there was a chance for anyone to get out,? he said in a phone interview. ?She?s a very strong, strong woman,? he said. ?But they?ve been searching for a long time already.? Finstad, 41, helped organize the trip with husband Dan Chua through the family?s company, Worldwide Diving Adventures. — Kristy Finstads brother asked for everyone to pray for her (Picture: Facebook)

Angela Rose Quitasol remains missing following the September 2, 2019 dive boat fire off of Santa Barbara, California. Some of her other family members - sister Nicole Storm Quitasol, sister Evanmichel Solano Quitasol, and the girls' father, Michel Storm Quitasol - were also aboard the boat and are still missing. — Angela was maid of honour at her sisters wedding just two weeks ago (Picture: Facebook)

SANTA CRUZ ISLAND, CA - SEPTEMBER 2: In this handout provided by Santa Barbara County Fire Department, the 75-foot Conception, based in Santa Barbara Harbor, burns after catching fire early September 2, 2019 anchored off Santa Cruz Island, California. Thirty-four are missing, while five crew members were rescued, according to published reports. (Photo by Santa Barbara County Fire Department via Getty Images) — Officials said the fire spread so quickly it would have been difficult for anyone to escape (Picture: Getty/Santa Barbara County Fire Department)

Nicole Storm Quitasol remains missing following the September 2, 2019 dive boat fire off of Santa Barbara, California. Some of her other family members - sister Angela Rose, sister Evanmichel Solano Quitasol, and the girls' father, Michel Storm Quitasol - were also aboard the boat and are still missing. — Nicole was a bridesmaid at her sisters wedding two weeks ago (Picture: Facebook)

The way they interacted with anyone they came across, they were wonderful. They were outstanding girls. Thats about all I can tell you right now.

The Pacific Collegiate School, which teaches students aged 12 to 18, has also confirmed some students and parents were on the vessel but not on a school-sponsored trip.

In a statement posted on its website, the school said: Our hearts and thoughts are withRead More – Source

By Deputy Chief EditorSeptember 4, 2019

175 2 minutes read