Coast Guard rescues man, dog from sailboat on fire

The Coast Guard rescued a man and his dog from a sailboat on fire approximately six miles from Freeport, Saturday.

Watchstanders at Coast Guard Sector Houston-Galveston received a call around 10 a.m., from the son of the sailboat captain stating his father's vessel was on fire. The watchstanders directed the launch of a Coast Guard Station Freeport 45-foot Response Boat – Medium boatcrew.

"Once on scene we could smell the burning vessel," - said Chief Petty Officer Andrew Babione, executive petty officer of Station Freeport. "We saw the gentleman and his dog on deck with life jackets on. The master did everything right, he called for help immediately, he filed a float plan with his wife and had all the safety gear required."

When the rescue crew arrived on scene they took the man and his dog aboard the Coast Guard boat, and proceeded to put out the fire. They towed the sailboat back to Freeport Marina. They were met by the local fire department and emergency medical services at the marina.

There were no reports of injuries or pollution.

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