BELLINGHAM, Wash. -- No major injuries are reported after U.S. Coast Guard crews from Bellingham and Port Angeles rescued a man from a sailboat fire in the San Juans early yesterday morning.

A red flare alerted officials to the emergency and they launched a rescue boat from Bellingham, as well as a helicopter from Port Angeles.

Crews on scene found the 24 ft. sailboat on fire and a man standing in shallow water near the blaze, but the shallow, rocky bottom kept the boat from reaching him.

A rescue swimmer lowered from the helicopter was able to hoist the man to safety, and he was taken to awaiting paramedics in Bellingham.

The Coast Guard says the boat burned down to the water line, and the cause of the fire remains undetermined.