Garage fire in Bourne
BOURNE - Firefighters were called to a garage fire in Bourne just after noon. Heavy smoke was showing when crews arrived 26 Oak Bluff Road. A Plymouth engine assisted at the scene. No injuries were reported, but reports say a vintage Porsche was destroyed. The cause of the fire is under investigation.

Coast Guard, Samaritans assist boaters 920 miles off Cape
CAPE COD - The Coast Guard and a Good Samaritan crew saved three people from a sailing vessel approximately 920 miles east of Cape Cod Saturday at approximately 7:57 a.m.

The good Samaritan crew, aboard the motor vessel Winona, rescued two people aboard the dismasted sailing vessel Sytiburon-36 and one from the water, safely and with no reported injuries.

Watchstanders from the 1st Coast Guard District command center were notified at approximately 5:30 p.m. Friday from the GEOS command center that an SOS transmission was received from the Sytiburon-36. A GEOS representative spoke with the emergency contact on the beacon's registration, the spouse of the master of the Sytiburon-36 from Poland, but stated there was a language barrier.

By approximately 6:00 p.m., the 1st Coast Guard District command center had found a Polish translator and arranged a conference call with the contact to gather information that would help identify the vessel and assess the safety equipment available to the men aboard.

The command center then contacted the Coast Guard Atlantic Area command center in Norfolk, Va., and requested air support from Coast Guard Air Station Elizabeth City, N.C.

An airborne Coast Guard C-130J  from Elizabeth City was sent to the position provided by Sytiburon-36’s working GEOS radio beacon. A watchstander from the 1st Coast Guard District in charge of the search and rescue identified several vessels in the area utilizing the Amber system, a voluntary search and rescue system that merchant vessels participate in to assist other mariners in distress. Several vessels responded to the assistance request and the Winona was identified as the closest vessel in the vicinity of the Sytiburon-36 through the aircraft's long-range identification and tracking (LRIT) system.

The crew of the Winona responded to the request for assistance and with the help of the C-130J crew and constant communication with the 1st Coast Guard District command center, they were able to locate and recover the three people in aggressive seas using side ladders, liferings and rescue lines.

“Finding ways to communicate was instrumental in determining who could help that far out at sea," said Petty Officer 3rd Class Stephen Leavitt, the operational unit chair in charge of the search and rescue at the 1st Coast Guard District. "It was so important that their GEO spot worked so we could send the right Coast Guard assets and ask nearby good Samaritans to respond as soon as possible to pull the three men to safety. When embarking on a long voyage it is important to have the proper safety and communication equipment on board so others can efficiently locate and communicate with distressed mariners."

The case was Leavitt's first after completing his qualifications for search and rescue management.

Weather at the time of the incident was reported as 28-34 mph winds and 15 to 20-foot seas.

All three crewmembers are in stable medical condition and will remain aboard the Winona en route to Finnsnes, Norway.
Media release and photo furnished by U.S. Coast Guard 

Head-on crash in Falmouth
FALMOUTH - Two people were injured, one seriously, in a head-on crash in Falmouth shortly after 10:30 p.m. Saturday evening, The crash happened on Nathan Ellis Highway (Route 151) at Fordham Road. The injured were taken to Falmouth Hospital. Falmouth Police are investigating the crash.

Rollover crashes on Route 6 in Bourne, Harwich
BOURNE - A vehicle rolled on its roof on the Scenic Highway (Route 6) near Bournedale Road around 9:15 p.m. The driver was out of the vehicle when officials were arrived and declined to go to a hospital. Police are investigating. Meanwhile about a half hour later, a vehicle rolled on its side in the woods in Harwich. It happened on Route 6 between exit 10 and the Dennis line. The driver was able to get out of the vehicle and was taken to Cape Cod Hospital. State Police are investigating the crash which tied up traffic for a time.

Older, Wiser driver seminar offered in Dennis
DENNIS - The Dennis Police Department in conjunction with AAA of Southern New England, is sponsoring a two-hour seminar titled “The Older and Wiser Driver.”

The course, developed by AAA, will focus on topics of interest to senior drivers including tips on night driving and developing strategies on reaching your destination safely.

The seminar will be held on Wednesday, February 15th, 2013 from
10 am to 12 noon at the Dennis Police Department, 90 Bob Crowell Road.

Attendees need not be a AAA member and there is no fee for the seminar.  You can sign up by calling the Dennis Senior Center at 508-385-5067 or email Sgt Jim Sullivan at jimsullivan@town.dennis.ma.us.
Media release furnished by Dennis Police

Click here for more Cape Wide News

Please support these great companies that sponsor Cape Wide News: Central Construction - Agway - Botello Lumber - Silver Cloud Towing 508.394.4141 - Paine's Patio - Sandwich Car Wash - Battles Buick GMC - Clancy's Restaurant