Baby, mother rescued from Venice Beach boat fire

MARINA DEL REY, Calif. (KABC) -- Five people, including a 4-month-old infant, are safe after escaping a burning boat off Venice Beach.

Los Angeles County Fire officials said the boat fire happened near 1200 Ocean Front Walk at around 3:09 p.m.

At just a few months old, Isabel Buchon is unaware of her narrow escape, but her parents are grateful to be going home after the family and two other women were forced to jump into the water to escape a 40-foot power boat that went up in flames.

"You have to jump," said the child's mother, Theresa Gandler. "It was like flames behind you. You don't think, you just jump, and then the lifeguards were there in five seconds."

LA County fire lifeguard Jon Van Duinwyk said the fire devoured the vessel in a matter of minutes as the mother and daughter were pulled to safety.

"I dive in the water, the woman falls over the side with the infant. I swam to her as fast as I can and as they came back up to the surface, I identified myself to the woman, and kicked the baby over to the boat, keeping the baby above the water," said Duinwyk.

All four adults were rescued without injuries, while Isabel was transported to a hospital as a precautionary measure, according to fire authorities.

"Just thank you for being there," said Gandler. "We're very happy."