The Coast Guard rescued three people from a burning vessel five miles east of Port Angeles on Tuesday evening, shortly before the 48-foot yacht was engulfed in flames and sank.

At about 6 p.m., Coast Guard Sector Puget Sound received a call about the fire from one of the three men aboard the vessel a half mile offshore and five miles east of Port Angeles, near Sequim.

A 45-foot response boat and MH-65 rescue helicopter crew responded and were on scene in 15 minutes. Two members of the boat crew transferred the three men from the burning vessel to the response boat before entering the engine room and attempting to extinguish the fire.

“After using an extinguisher and water pump to suppress the fire, the boat crew placed the 48-foot yacht in tow and began transiting toward Port Angeles for rendezvous with the local fire department,” read the statement. “While en route, the fire re-flashed and the boat crew was forced to break tow as the flames engulfed the burning vessel.”

The yacht burned to the waterline and sank before the boat crew had transported the three rescued mariners to Boat Haven Marina. No fuel sheen was observed in the water upon departure from the scene of the sunken vessel.

“The fast action to call for help was essential to their survival,” said Petty Officer Alexander Polyak of the Sector Puget Sound command center. “Having a reliable means of communication, appropriate for your location and distance off shore, can mean the difference between life and death. We encourage all mariners to not only have cell phones, but make sure you have a VHF-FM marine-band radio to ensure communication capability in the event of an emergency.”

Medical personnel examined one of the mariners for potential smoke inhalation. No further injuries were reported.