Missing Vessel Located in Early AM Utilizing Drone Infrared
Central Kitsap Fire and Rescue’s Battalion Chief was notified by Kitsap 911 at 1:40 am this morning of a 22-foot vessel adrift in the channel between Illahee and west Bainbridge Island.
The reporting party was a concerned wife and mother. She explained that her husband and two daughters went fishing out of Brownsville Marina at 5:00 pm. At 10:00 pm she said the husband called and stated they had a dead battery and couldn’t start the boat. At 1:30 am the wife called 911 concerned that she had not heard from her family, and they were not picking up their cell phones.
The Battalion Chief along with the Coast Guard formulated a plan to search an area pinged by the cell phone of one of the passengers. It was determined the boat may be floating south near Illahee State Park.
CKFRs Marine 51 was launched from Brownsville Marina to begin a search of the area. The Battalion Chief established a command post at Illahee State Park with Engine 41 and Medic 51 personnel. CKFRs large drone was launched, utilizing FLIR (Forward Looking Infrared) and quickly located a boat matching the description of the vessel with the missing family members.
Marine 51 arrived and investigated the boat. All three members were accounted for and safe. The two daughters were transported to the dock at Illahee State Park and then placed in Medic 51 to warm up.
Mom came down to the park to pick up her daughters and the husband decided to stay overnight on the boat.