Homer Alaska - News

From boats burning to boats taking on water, last week saw a flurry of activity on Kachemak Bay. While those involved walked away with some vivid memories, thanks to those who rushed to the aid of the boaters in distress, there were no injuries and no lost lives.

"I really like the buddy system where small boaters work together," said Homer Harbormaster Bryan Hawkins. "That's the response where you realize it could be you, so you stop doing what you're doing and you go help. That's a wonderful thing about Alaska in general, we help each other."

The "buddy system" was in play last Thursday morning, when fire broke out on the Snake River Red, a 33-foot fiberglass pleasure craft from Kenai. A mayday call from Gloria Adkins of Kenai who, along with her husband, Gregory Lindhartsen, owns the vessel, drew a response from nearby boaters, the U.S. Coast Guard and personnel in the Homer Harbormaster's office.

Within minutes, Lindhartsen, Adkins, their two grandsons under the age of 18 and Adkins' sister, Linda Mullens of Idaho, were removed to safety before flames drove them into Kachemak Bay's frigid water.

"We were just en route to go halibut fishing and a fire started under the wheelhouse," said Adkins. "It wasn't very noticeable. Just a little smoke. But it went up pretty fast."

As they began to attack the fire with extinguishers, Adkins broadcast a mayday call, alerting the Coast Guard the Snake River Red was engulfed in flames about 13 miles west of Homer, according to Petty Officer Walter Shinn of Coast Guard Public Affairs in Juneau. The Coast Guard issued an urgent marine information broadcast alerting other boats of the situation. A C-130 Hercules aircraft from Air Station Kodiak was diverted to the scene, and a fast boat from the USCGC Hickory, as well as the Hickory, responded.

Those on board the Snake River Red battled the flames until their fire extinguishers were empty. Lindhartsen continued his firefighting efforts by throwing water onto the fire. One of the youngsters was able to get on a life vest. The other, who had been sleeping inside the cabin at the time the fire broke out, was unable to do so.

"Our family is very safety conscious," said Adkins. "Nothing can prepare you to go through something like this, but everybody was very together."

The USCG Buoy Tender Hickory puts out a fire on the Snake River Red as it burns off Seldovia Point. Tourist Joe Waligura of Leakey, Texas, took the photo while on a sightseeing tour with Homer Flyout Adventures.

Gathered at the stern of the vessel, the group saw the welcome sight of boats headed their direction. Among those responding was Steve Rykaczewski; his wife, Cheryl; and their daughters, Alina and Renae; aboard the 26-foot Early Tide. All are from Homer, except Renae, who was visiting from Portland, Ore.

"We were on our way out to halibut fish when we heard the mayday call," said Steve Rykaczewski. "My daughter pointed out she could see the smoke from behind us. We weren't sure about anybody else being close, but figured we better head that way."

Within minutes, the Early Tide was on scene, arriving right behind the Happy Hooker, owned by Chimo Phillips of Nikiski.

"It was really amazing how fast they got to us. At least three boats were out there quick," said Adkins. "The Happy Hooker got there very fast and in nothing flat they were getting us on board with them."

Once everyone was safely on the Happy Hooker, Phillips quickly pulled away and then delivered Lindhartsen, Adkins, their grandchildren and Mullens back to their pickup at the Homer Harbor.

As five left Homer for their drive back to Kenai, they could see what was left of the Snake River Red.

"We could see it still burning when we got to the top of Baycrest coming home," Adkins said. "It was amazing."

With 20 years experience fishing out of Homer, Rykaczewski recognized the line between safety and disaster for those aboard the Snake River Red was widened due to the quick response of boaters in the area.

"If it had gone much longer, just a few minutes later and the folks would probably have had to be in the water," he said. "The timing was fortuitous. ... Boat fires don't take long to get ugly."

The vessel was reported to have had 150 gallons of diesel on board. No pollution was reported, according to Shinn. The cause of the fire is unknown at this time.

The U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary SAFE Boat was dispatched at 5:15 p.m. to provide a firsthand report to the Coast Guard of the vessel's situation.

"We found the hull still floating. The boat was smoldering when we got there. About 45 minutes later, flames broke out and it burned for awhile, then died down and continued to smoke through the evening," said Gayle Forrest, commander of the Coast Guard Auxiliary Homer Flotilla.

The Coast Guard continued to issue security alerts to mariners throughout the evening, alerting them of the boats position and that it posed a possible hazard. The SAFE Boat was released about 10:30 p.m.

Also Thursday morning, Gerald Paluck, owner of the 39-foot Northern Rebel, radioed a report that his pleasure craft was taking on water approximately seven miles off the Spit.

"He said he was taking on water, had a pump going and thought he was going to make it, but it was going to be touch and go," said Homer Harbormaster Bryan Hawkins. "As the drama played out, the closer he got it sounded from the tone in his voice like it was getting more urgent."

Paluck continued toward Homer at about 7 knots, with Hawkins and crew aboard the USCGC Hickory monitoring his progress. The R/V Thunder, a research vessel based in Homer, began shadowing the Northern Rebel as it neared Homer.

"I asked (the Thunder's) captain what the condition was from his point of view and he said it was very low in the water by the bow and, in his opinion, was critical," Hawkins said.

Additional pumps were delivered to the Northern Rebel with the help Deputy Harbormaster Matt Clark; the Mulligan, one of Mako Haggerty's water taxis; and assistance from the Thunder.

With the pumps working full-time and the other vessels nearby, Paluck was able to safely reach the Homer Harbor under his own power.

At noon, a report that the Serendipity, a 22-foot Alumaweld, had lost power also drew a response for the Harbormaster's Office.

"Someone towed them up to the harbor and then we went out and brought them in," said Hawkins. "It wasn't an emergency. They just needed a hand."

Photo by Cheryl and Renae Rykacz Fire consumes the cabin of the Snake River Red Thursday morning on Kachemak Bay.

Another "non-emergency" situation arose Friday morning when Scott Ulmer's 34-foot catamaran, Showtime, began taking on water.

"We had an exhaust come loose, but it was discovered quickly and there was really no emergency there," Ulmer said. "When you have clients on board, you always default to safety and now knowing what the problem was, we asked for assistance. But as we got into the matter and discovered it was an exhaust problem, we remedied the issue and motored into port."

All of this happened in a week when the Coast Guard received 23 separate distress calls across the state of Alaska, resulting in the saving of two lies and assistance provided to 33 in a period of six days.

"Alaska can be a beautiful place, but an emergency can happen at any given moment and knowing what to do and who to contact when an emergency situation arises can help save your life," said Petty Officer Second Class Jacques Castro, a situation and communications controller in the Sector Anchorage Command Center

Hawkins, an advocate of expanding boaters' margin of safety, recommended Coast Guard Auxiliary-sponsored boating safety courses, float plans shared a loved one or trusted friend, back-up plans, equipment to help pinpoint location and equipment to communicate if help is needed.

"This is a fantastic place to go boating," said Hawkins. "We just want people to be safe."

McKibben Jackinsky can be reached at mckibben.jackinsky.@homernews.com.