WATCH: Three people are recovering tonight after a dramatic rescue in the waters off Nanaimo. The trio was in a boat that suddenly burst into flames, forcing them to leap into the water. But, as Skye Ryan reports, a strong wind and choppy seas made the search for the three survivors a challenge.

Crews have rescued three people who jumped in the water from a boat that caught fire off the coast of Nanaimo Thursday morning.

The fire started at around 10:30 a.m. near Rocky Point Three people were on the boat and jumped into the choppy water. Witnesses who saw the fire from the shore said it difficult to tell where the three people were in the water due to the high winds and whitecaps on the water.

WATCH: Nanaimo fire crews extinguish a boat fire at Neck Point Park on Sept. 27.

A boat catches fire off the coast of Nanaimo on Sept. 27, 2018, as seen from Neck Point Park. Photo Credit: Gary Magnusson.

A boat catches fire off the coast of Nanaimo on Sept. 27, 2018, as seen from Neck Point Park. Photo Credit: Gary Magnusson.

A boat catches fire off the coast of Nanaimo on Sept. 27, 2018, as seen from Neck Point Park. Photo Credit: Gary Magnusson.

The Joint Rescue Co-Ordination Centre, the Coast Guard, the Nanaimo Port Authority and Nanaimo Fire Rescue responded to the fire and were able to get the group out of the water.

The three people were taken to hospital for observation.

The boat was beached at Neck Point Park so fire crews could put out the blaze.

Nanaimo firefighters put out a boat fire at Neck Point Park on Sept. 27, 2018. Photo Credit: Chelsea Caroline.

3 ppl rescued from choppy seas off #Nanaimo after their boat caught fire this a.m. All are safe, in hospital now CHEK_News @NanaimoFire pic.twitter.com/VEyWLcfxJF

— Skye Ryan (@SkyeRyanCHEK) September 27, 2018

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