This afternoon around 12:51 pm a call came into Hawaii Fire Department for a small recreational dinghy type vessel nearly submerged approx 100 yards offshore in Hilo Bay. Three people were reported in the water and a dog still in the boat. Company 1, Rescue Company 2, and Batallion Chief responded and by 12:56 pm the first units were on the scene.

Engine 1 and the Batallion Chief kept eyes on the victims, their dog, and the submerged boat, WhileRescue Boat and a private Personal Water Craft (PWC) lanched from Wailoa Harbor. Once on the scene, the PWC operated by an off-duty lifeguard transferred the victims and their dog from their boat to the Rescue Boat. The boat was then towed to the nearby sandy shoreline, and the occupants were taken to Wailoa Harbor for evaluation by Medic 1.

Hawaii Fire Department would like to remind all boat captains to provide life vests for all aboard their boats.