Volunteers race to burning launch near Blumine Island

Smoke rising near Blumine Island, near Arapaoa Island in the Marlborough Sounds, triggered an urgent callout for Coastguard Marlborough, sending volunteers racing across calm waters to a burning launch.

The alert came late yesterday morning, with reports of a 15m vessel on fire in the Marlborough Sounds on what was otherwise a textbook day on the water, calm seas and light winds, said Coastguard on its Facebook page.

Volunteers dropped everything and headed for base as the siren from the Picton Volunteer Fire Brigade echoed across town. Pumps, hoses and gear were quickly loaded aboard Bluebridge Rescue before the crew set off, pushing through the water at 45 knots towards the smoke.

About 25 minutes later, they arrived on scene.

The vessel had already been abandoned. The owner had made the right call, gathering essential gear and evacuating into an inflatable dinghy before being safely picked up by the Marlborough Harbour team.

Fire crews immediately began battling the blaze. Flames, smoke and steam poured from the launch as teams worked for nearly an hour to bring the fire under control. The heat was so intense it scorched trees along the nearby shoreline.

Despite every effort, the vessel could not be saved.

"No lives were lost, no one was seriously injured and everyone made it home safely," said Coastguard on its Facebook page.