Four fishermen missing off Washington coast

The US Coast Guard on Saturday was searching for four fishermen after an emergency beacon from their boat led rescuers to debris and an oil sheen about 17 miles off the Washington coast. 

The fishing vessel – the 70-foot Lady Cecelia – emitted a distress signal early Saturday, the Associated Press reported. The ship's owner told the AP four people were on board. The ship was registered in Oregon, the news service said. 

Rescuers who reached the debris site on Saturday also found a damaged lifeboat. 

"The life raft was in no condition to be used," said Coast Guard Petty Officer Shawn Eggert told AP.

Helicopters and lifeboats were called in to help with the search. The Coast Guard has so far searched an area of more than 640 square miles west of Leadbetter Point near Willapa Bay, Wash., it said in a news release. 

Jay, the brother of Portland Trail Blazers TV Host Adam Bjaranson, was among those on board, Northwest Cable News reported. 

More from GlobalPost: Judge stabbed, courthouse guard shot in Washington state

More from GlobalPost: 3D printing: A stepping stone to new human tissue and body parts