A fire that broke out at a Vancouver Island marina Sunday morning destroyed and ultimately sank three luxury yachts, according to officials.
First responders were called to VanIsle Marina just after 7:30 a.m., Chief Brett Mikkelsen with the Town of Sidney Fire Department told CTV News, adding the plume of smoke was visible from the fire hall which is roughly two kilometres away.
Mikkelsen said by the time firefighters arrived, three 70-foot yachts were “fully involved.” Crews worked to mitigate the damage and had the fire knocked down in roughly 90 minutes. However, an unknown number of boats were damaged by flames, smoke and water.
No one was injured and the cause of the fire is under investigation, Mikkelsen said.
The Town of Sidney, in a social media post, said an environmental assessment is now underway—led by Western Canada Marine Response.
In a statement to its website, VanIsle Marina confirmed the loss of three “power yachts” and thanked first responders for their work.
“The combined efforts of all agencies played a critical role in containing the fire and preventing further impact,” the statement said.
“Fuel containment and surface cleanup are actively underway, with environmental protection as a top priority. Salvage planning is in progress and will proceed in close coordination with the appropriate authorities to safely remove the vessels and debris.”
The owners of the yachts have all been notified, according to the marina.
“Our thoughts are with the affected owners, and we appreciate the patience and understanding of our marina community as this work continues,” the statement concluded.
With files from CTV News Vancouver’s Demetra Maragos
