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W E DN E S DAY, O C TOBE R 21, 2 0 2 0
NTSB rules on Conception fire Board says Truth Aquatics caused boat fire, blames lack of oversight By GRAYCE MCCORMICK NEWS-PRESS STAFF WRITER
VENTURA COUNTY FIRE DEPARTMENT PHOTO
The Conception dive boat fire in 2019 cost the lives of 34 people.
After more than a year-long investigation, the National Transportation Safety Board determined Tuesday that the probable cause of the Conception boat fire tragedy was the failure of Truth Aquatics Inc. to provide effective oversight of the vessel and crew member operations. The fire claimed the lives of 34 individuals near Santa Cruz Island off the Santa Barbara coast on Sept. 2, 2019. The board discussed its findings during a virtual meeting. The board could not determine the origin area or cause of the fire from wreckage examination. But through interviews with the five surviving crew members, examination of the similar vessel Vision and statements from previous passengers, investigators were able
to predict what the origin and cause of the fire relied on. Board members proposed 18 findings as a result of the investigation. The key findings of what led to the fire included the lack of a requirement of a roving patrol that was codified in U.S. law for nearly 150 years, the lack of the U.S. Coast Guard regulatory requirement for smoke detection in all accommodations spaces and inadequate emergency escape arrangements from the bunk room. These reasons and more allowed for a fire of an unknown cause to grow undetected in the vicinity of the aft salon on the main deck, preventing escape and contributing to the high loss of life, according to the NTSB. Staff also determined the emergency response to the accident was appropriate, but unable to prevent the loss of life. Constructed in 1981, Conception’s purpose
SB Unified students protest delayed re-entry By ANNELISE HANSHAW NEWS-PRESS STAFF WRITER
A group of around 40 students met in front of the Santa Barbara Unified School District’s office, at 720 Santa Barbara St., around noon on Tuesday. They held signs protesting the school board’s decision to delay in-person learning until second semester for secondary schools. Students held signs painted in school colors that said: “We don’t feel heard,” “We miss school,” “Stop putting yourself before the students,” and other short messages. A semicircle of approximately 25 people surrounded the student protest. Parents, community members and a couple political candidates took photos of the students and clapped for them. District employees listened, and Board President Laura Capps approached students and chatted. The students were otherwise quiet, not chanting unless provoked by a parent. A group of three San Marcos High School freshmen girls said parents had a role spreading the word, but students organized the protest. One of the girls, Hope Campbell, heard about the protest from her dad, Brian Campbell, who’s a candidate for the district’s school board. Mr. Campbell said the official announcement of the protest wasn’t sent until the day before to avoid district employees from stopping it, but a few people planned it earlier. “I’m proud of my kid for coming out and voicing their concerns,” he said. “It’s a lot harder to protest than check a box on a survey.” In a survey sent by the district prior to the Oct. 13 board meeting, 54% of students responded that they were ready to return to campus. “We’re missing a lot that you don’t think about,” Nicole Parker said. Her friends Hope and Kiera Kinsella agreed, saying they aren’t
RAFAEL MALDONADO / NEWS-PRESS PHOTOS
San Marcos High School freshmen Kiera Kinsella, Nicole Parker and Hope Campbell protest the Santa Barbara Unified school board’s decision to delay in-person learning. They have spent a lot of time together while distance learning, but they want to see their classmates.
getting a high-school experience. They had their own homecoming party with two other friends and even dressed up before meeting at Kiera’s house. “I’m confused as to why we’re not able to go to school but we can go to the mall or go see a movie,” Kiera said. “Why is that more important than our learning?” They were still worried about COVID-19, but said mental health is important as well. “We have to try to get through COVID-19 or else it’ll be a roadblock in our lives for many years,” Hope said. Santa Barbara High School senior Lily Bienstock said she has been nervous as she applies for college.
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Jeff Bridges faces cancer diagnosis By DAVE MASON NEWS-PRESS MANAGING EDITOR
Jeff Bridges has been diagnosed with lymphoma. The Oscar winner, known for having been a longtime Montecito resident, announced the diagnosis Monday on Twitter. Lymphoma is a kind of blood cancer. He noted he felt fortunate for his team of doctors and the love of his family and friends. “I’m starting treatment and will keep you posted,” Mr. Bridges, 70, said. In a second tweet, the actor posted, “Thank you for your prayers and well wishes. And, while I have you, please remember to go vote. Because we are all in this together. Vote.org.” Mr. Bridges said his prognosis was good, but did not say whether he had Hodgkin lymphoma or nonHodgkin lymphoma. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention say both kinds of lymphoma affect the tissues and organs that produce, store and carry white blood cells that fight infections. The Montecito actor received a lot of support on social media, everyone from Mr. Sulu himself, “Star Trek” actor George Takei, to crime novelist Don Winslow. Mr. Bridges is known for movies varying from the first “Iron Man” movie to “Thunderbolt and Lightfoot, “Starman,” “The Fabulous Baker Boys,” “The Fisher King” and the Coen brothers’ cult classic “The Big
Superintendent Hilda Maldonado, left, welcomes Sierra Chesluk, the protest’s organizer, inside the district office at 720 Santa Barbara St. to hear her concerns.
“I’m worried for college that I’m not going to be prepared,” she said. She heard about the protest
was to take recreational divers on day and overnight trips, and was constructed with fiberglass laid over plywood. The vessel was made before 1996, missing a new set of regulations as it was classified as an “existing vessel.” The fire burned without intervention for around an hour and 40 minutes, while passengers and crew members were asleep, sinking Conception in about 61 feet of water in the inverted position. The potential ignition sources of the aft portion of the salon included electrical systems, charging batteries and devices, improperly discarded smoking materials or some other unknown ignition source. It was indicated from interviews that it was a common practice of Truth Aquatics vessels to recharge 15 to 20 battery-powered devices such as flashlights and cameras overnight in Please see conception on A5
Monday in a group chat of senior girls. She said people argued in the chat about returning to Please see RALLY on A8
The Montecito actor received a lot of support on social media, everyone from Mr. Sulu himself, “Star Trek” actor George Takei, to crime novelist Don Winslow.
COURTESY PHOTO
“Thank you for your prayers and well wishes,” Jeff Bridges posted Monday on Twitter.
Lebowski,” which immortalized the actor as the Dude. He won the Oscar for best actor two years in a row, for “Crazy Heart” (2009) and the “True Grit” remake (2010) for the role of Rooster Cogburn. (John Wayne won his only Oscar when he played the same character in the 1969 “True Grit” movie.) Recently Mr. Bridges was filming “The Old Man,” a TV series set to debut on Hulu. Mr. Bridges, who is known for his singing and guitar playing, photography and other art as well as his acting, has played an active role in the Santa Barbara community. His projects have included the regular contributions of his art to the annual Festival of the Hearts, a benefit for the Friendship Center, which offers adult day services in Montecito and Goleta. Mr. Bridges is also a campaigner for No Kid Hungry, an advocate for Unity Shoppe, a musician who has performed at the Lobero Theatre and a storyteller. Earlier this month, Mr. Bridges and his daughter, Isabelle Bridges, went on NBC’s “Today” to discuss the children’s book they wrote together, “Daddy Daughter Day.” And, of course, Mr. Bridges is known for being a longtime part of Montecito. In 2019, he and his wife, Susan Geston, sold their Montecito home to neighbor Oprah Winfrey for $6.85 million. (Besides their residence in Montecito, they’ve had a home in Montana.) email: dmason@newspress.com
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Classified............... A7 Life.....................A4-5 Obituaries............. A8
Saturday’s SUPER LOTTO: 7-19-25-29-42 Meganumber: 1
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Tuesday’s MEGA MILLIONS: 46-54-57-58-66 Meganumber: 10
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Saturday’s POWERBALL: 6-10-31-37-44 Meganumber: 23
Soduku................. A5 Weather................ A8
Tuesday’s DAILY 3: 7-2-5 / Sunday’s Midday 0-3-6