Camano Search & Rescue claims unattended boat
Published 10:04 am Wednesday, April 10, 2013
A tiny unattended boat floating between South Whidbey and Camano Island was hauled to shore by Camano Fire and Rescue.The call of a suspicious boat was made around noon Monday to South Whidbey Fire & Rescue, which responded to the private Whidbey Shores boat launch at Fox Spit. A small boat could be seen floating far away, nearer the shores of Camano Island.
Mike Cotton, assistant chief of South Whidbey Fire and Rescue, said its rescue boat was literally in the shop. Firefighters eventually responded with a water jet rescue unit but it was left on the trailer.
Levon Vengoyan, assistant chief of Camano Island Fire and Rescue, said South Whidbey called and asked for assistance. “We’re always happy to help each other out,” he said. Camano sent out a crew in a 19-foot Bullhead rescue boat and found what Yengoyan described as “a little paddle boat,” about 8-feet long with no markings. The rescue team searched for people in the area but found none.
“It’d been it the water quite a while. We towed it to shore and moved it to the station,” Vengoyan said. Camano Fire and Rescue will retain the boat for a short time before disposing of it. “It probably isn’t worthanything,” Yengoyan said. Anyone who lost the boat and wants it back should call 360-387-1786.
