BOSTON (AP) -- Two New Hampshire fishermen have been rescued from a burning boat off Massachusetts by two off-duty Coast Guard officers aided by other boaters.

The Coast Guard says it received a mayday call from the 50-foot fishing boat about 20 nautical miles east-southeast of Gloucester  shortly after 9 a.m. Sunday.

Officials say they lost communication with the boat after smoke forced the crew to evacuate the pilothouse, but a pleasure boat with two off-duty Coast Guardsmen aboard overheard the call and responded.

Chief Petty Officer George Bannon and Petty Officer 2nd Class Alex Waide teamed up with another fishing vessel to deliver fire extinguishers to the Portsmouth fishermen, who were able to put out the fire.

Waide says he and Bannon were "at the right place, at the right time."

(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)