Fire forces dozens to flee fishing boat way off Hawaii

HONOLULU - The Coast Guard coordinated the rescue of 42 people who abandoned their fishing vessel after it caught fire about 1,800 miles south of the Hawaiian Islands Wednesday, reports CBS Honolulu affiliate KGMB-TV.

Crew members of the 258-foot U.S.-flagged American Eagle abandoned ship that morning and went into two life rafts, three work boats and one skiff. An emergency position-indicating radio beacon was activated.

An HC-130 Hercules airplane from Air Station Barbers Point arrived at the scene in the evening, established communications with the crew and dropped a dewatering pump, flash lights and flares, KGMB says.

The Fong Seong 888, an oil tanker flagged in the South Pacific island nation of Tuvala, arrived in the evening to assist.

The American Eagle's captain reported smoke had dissipated and he and eight crew members got back on board and put out the fire, restarted the generator, re-established electricity and kept communication systems going.

The other 33 crew members boarded the Fong Seong.

American Eagle's sister ship, American Victory, was en route and expected to arrive over the weekend to relieve the Fong Seong.

No injuries were reported, and the American Eagle was reported to be in decent shape.