Engine Explosion Sets Boat Ablaze West of Santa Barbara, Greg Olsen Escapes Alone by Kayak

A boat caught fire after an engine explosion in the sea 20 nautical miles west of Santa Barbara Harbor in California. Dr Greg Olsen, husband of actress Kathy Ireland, was alone on board and escaped the fire.

Kathy Ireland, 63, shared video on Instagram of her husband's boat, the 4th Watch, engulfed in flames. She said Olsen was out alone on the water while she was away on business.

Ireland wrote that the engine exploded and the fire quickly melted all navigation equipment and the survival raft. She thanked those who aided in the rescue, including TowBoatUS Ventura, which she named in the post.

TowBoatUS Ventura said on Instagram that it received a call about the fire around 3 p.m. on Wednesday afternoon, noting the vessel was 20 nautical miles west of Santa Barbara Harbor.

TowBoatUS Ventura credited Olsen for his quick thinking. It said he initially attempted to extinguish the fire before ultimately activating his EPIRB and abandoning ship into a kayak.

The company said this was about as good an outcome as one could hope for in an otherwise serious emergency, adding that a well-prepared mariner, good samaritans nearby, and commercial vessels equipped and ready to respond made all the difference.

Ireland also shared a note she wrote to her husband, saying she knows how much love, sweat and life he poured into the vessel, and that the boat brought joy and blessings to their family and countless others.

Fans in the comments shared well-wishes for Ireland and Olsen, with some recounting their own experiences of losing belongings in a fire.

Olsen and Ireland married in August 1988 in San Diego, California, and share three children: Erik, 32, Lily, 27, and Chloe, 23. They celebrated their 38th wedding anniversary this year.