A grounded fishing vessel was still burning off Waikiki on Sunday after erupting in flames a day earlier.

Firefighters made several water drops with a helicopter Sunday morning to try to extinguish the blaze, said Coast Guard Chief Petty Officer Sara Muir.

She said the white smoke from the fire was a sign that no diesel fuel was burning, only paper or plastics. She said no oil sheen or debris were seen on the water Sunday.

The salvage company working to remove the vessel, Cates Marine Service, postponed an attempt to tow the vessel at high tide, which was expected at about 1:20 p.m., because the internal heat of the vessel made it unsafe for work crews, Muir said.

The company will continue monitoring the boat and check whether another tow attempt can be made today.

The 79-foot Pacific Paradise caught fire at about 10 a.m. Saturday while Cates Marine Service was preparing to tow it off the reef.

On Friday the salvage company first attempted to tow the boat during high tide, but the towline snapped. After reconnecting the lines, the company was able to tow the boat about 50 yards before the tide went out.

The longline fishing vessel has been stuck on the reef about 330 yards off Kaimana Beach since it ran aground Tuesday night with 20 people on board.

The Coast Guard continues to enforce a 500-yard safety zone in the water around the vessel.