BELLINGHAM, Wash. — Investigators believe the two people inside of a boathouse were killed during a fire at Squalicum Harbor on Friday, according to the Port of Bellingham. The fire destroyed 10 boats in the marina.
Jim Langei, 43, and and his wife Sterling Taylor, 33, were on a boat when the fire broke out before 5:30 a.m., according to officials. Their boat sank and the two are still missing.
Divers tried to search for the boat on Friday, but it was dangerous because of the amount of debris in the water.
Chopper 7 was at the scene showing collapsed boathouses and charred debris in the water.
Divers in Whatcom County spent Saturday searching for the couple and their boat, but could not find them.
According to the Port of Bellingham, high winds and unstable weather conditions complicated the search efforts, which include moving a 150-foot barge with a 150-ton crane.
Due to the metal roof that collapsed on top of the burnt vessels, divers and recovery boats have not yet been able to access most of the evidence from the fire.
Investigators with the Bellingham Fire Department and Bellingham Police Department have not determined the cause of the fire, and the investigation will be ongoing.
The state Department of Ecology and U.S. Coast Guard remained at the scene to help assess environmental damage and cleanup operations.
The Port of Bellingham hired NRC Environmental Services as a cleanup contractor to also help with the environmental cleanup.