NEW YORK – Coast Guard Station Fire Island crewmembers rescued five boaters in distress, Wednesday, near Snakehill Channel. At approximately 9:30 p.m., Coast Guard Sector Long Island Sound command center received a call from Suffolk County Dispatch reporting mariners in the water east of the Robert Moses Causeway Bridge. One person aboard the boat called to report that their 27-foot pleasure craft was on fire and that they were dawning personal floatation devices and abandoning ship near Snakehill Channel. Coast Guard Station Fire Island, West Islip Fire Department, Suffolk Marine, Suffolk Air and Coast Guard Air Station Cape Cod launched to assist mariners. “This case was flawlessly executed by all parties involved and serves to highlight the superb working relationship we enjoy with our state, local and private maritime partners,” said Cmdr. Andrew Ely, Chief of Response for Sector Long Island Sound. “There was excellent response, communication and execution all around and our folks in the Sector command center brought it all together.”Station Fire Island crewmembers arrived on scene at 9:54 p.m., pulled five mariners from the water and transported them to East Islip Marina. West Islip Fire Department extinguished the fire onboard the vessel and anchored the vessel until Sea Tow arrived to conduct salvage. The boat was towed to Oakdale Yacht Club. No injuries or pollution were reported. ####