As a thorough investigation into the cause of the Conception boat fire off Santa Cruz Island continues, many speculate that the charging of personal electronics may have played an operative role in sparking the worst maritime disaster in modern California history.
While the source of the Labor Day dive boat inferno has yet to be determined, the U.S. Coast Guard issued a Safety Information Bulletin on Sept. 10 urging owners, operators, and masters of passenger vessels to, among other precautions, “reduce potential fire hazards and consider limiting the unsupervised charging of lithium-ion batteries and extensive use of power strips and extension cords.”
