It has been more than a year since the boat fire that killed 34 people near Santa Cruz Island. The National Transportation Safety Board has now released its findings and conclusions from its investigation into the fire.
The board said it was not able to determine the origin and cause of the fire onboard the Conception from the wreckage, but instead had to rely on interviews with surviving crew members, an examination of a similar vessel and statements from previous passengers.
NTSB said that it believes the fire started in the boat’s salon, which is an area above the bunkroom. Both bunkroom exits opened into the salon. The NTSB believes that anyone who tried to escape would have been blocked by fire and heavy smoke.
Investigators were not able to determine the cause of the fire.
