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Tugboat towing barge catches fire east of Matanzas Inlet

A tugboat with a barge attached caught fire eight miles east of the Matanzas Inlet on Friday night, according to the Coast Guard.

Around 5:05 p.m., the people on board the boat radioed the Coast Guard that the boat was on fire. Then, the people radioed the Coast Guard again, saying they had life jackets on and were getting in life rafts.

The Coast Guard believes that there were six people on board the boat at the time of the fire.

A 45-foot rescue boat and helicopter from the Coast Guard responded, as well as a St. Augustine Police boat. The Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department responded as well.

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