2 boaters rescued after vessel caught fire near Santa Cruz

SANTA CRUZ, Calif. -- Two boaters went overboard Saturday morning after their vessel caught fire near Santa Cruz, according to the United States Coast Guard.

The Coast Guard was called to the vicinity of Four Mile Beach, off the coast of Santa Cruz County, at 8:56 a.m.

There were only two people on board at the time of the fire, and a good Samaritan pulled the boaters out of the water, Coast Guard officials said.

They were transferred to a Coast Guard vessel before being taken to Santa Cruz for medical evaluation, according to Coast Guard officials.

Crews are still in the vicinity of the fire, however, looking for the remains of the vessel to evaluate the risk of environmental contamination.

It was not immediately known whether or not the vessel sank after catching fire, Coast Guard officials said.