Coast Guard Checks Flares

By Sentinel Staff

A Coast Guard Air Station Sitka helicopter crew searched for more than five hours Monday night and this morning after seven to 10 flares were spotted in the area of Halibut Island, near Angoon, the Coast Guard said.

A boater saw the flares and called local authorities, and Air Station Sitka was contacted at 10:27 p.m.

After more than five hours of searching without finding anyone in distress, the helicopter returned to Sitka at 3:11 a.m. today. It continued the search at 8:18 a.m.

In an earlier call on Monday, a helicopter from Coast Guard Air Station Sitka flew an 86-year-old Angoon man with a medical emergency to Sitka.

The call came in 3:56 p.m. from Juneau District, the helicopter launched at 4:38 p.m. and returned with the patient at 5:32 p.m.