A 15-metre launch was destroyed by fire near Blumine Island in the Marlborough Sounds, with the vessel’s owner evacuating safely before rescue crews arrived on scene.

Coastguard Marlborough said it was paged late yesterday morning and responded aboard Bluebridge Rescue, arriving at the scene approximately 25 minutes after the callout.

Picton Volunteer Fire Brigade also responded.

The owner had already abandoned the vessel before crews arrived, evacuating into an inflatable dinghy and being picked up by the Marlborough Harbours team.

Fire crews worked for nearly an hour to bring the blaze under control.

The heat was intense enough to scorch trees along the shoreline before the fire was suppressed. The vessel could not be saved.

No lives were lost and no serious injuries were reported.

Coastguard Marlborough said the callout illustrated the role volunteers play in water safety response across the region, with crew members leaving work, family and daily commitments to respond without notice.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​