I think we will find it was just a horrible accident. As a charter boat it is a USCG inspected vessel with very strict requirements to pass inspection and remain licensed to carry passengers. Some of the inspections are very costly and invasive on a wood hull boat. It would have been required from time to time to be hauled and have random planks removed in order to determine if the fasteners were properly holding. A vessel like this would have had a fire suppression system, most likely Halon but, more likely than not it would have been in the engine room.
It is going to take some time to determine cause, but I think you will find the boat was in compliance and maybe even exceeded USCG requirements (of course this is all speculation).
The only issue I see (and it is not a violation) is the location of the escape hatch. I think it goes with out saying having it above a bunk is a bad location. Obviously it is not easily accessible and can become blocked by an incapacitated person or what may have happened in this case the bedding catching fire. In addition the hatch exits the below deck area into the same compartment as the stair case. We may find this fire wasn't as quick and sudden as originally thought but was burning within the galley for a little while heating the materials to just below combustion temps, then oxygen was introduced an exploding O2 tank, Nitrox, a window breaking or a door being opened causing a backdraft instantly igniting the pre-heated materials.
