A boat caught fire and sank on Mission Harbour last Thursday morning (April 4).
According to Mission Fire Rescue Service, witnesses saw the boat fully engulfed in flame while crossing Mission Bridge around 5:30 a.m.
Multiple crews arrived on scene shortly after to extinguish the blaze on the 34-foot twin diesel boat docked on the Fraser River. The boat sank and parts of the dock were charred by the blaze.
MFRS deployed a containment boom around the vessel after it sank. Engine oil that was discharged from the vessel was also recovered.
No one was injured in the incident and the cause of the fire is undetermined. However, an investigation is underway. Mission RCMP attended the incident as well.
A Marine Environmental Hazard Response Officer from the Canadian Coast Guard was on site on Thursday to add sorbent pads and ensure containment measures were working effectively.
A contractor also arrived Friday afternoon (April 5) to develop a plan to remove the vessel. On Sunday (April 7), the Coast Guard says the contractor attempted to raise the boat but it broke in two due to its burned condition.
Only the forward half of the boat was removed from the water. Planning to recover the other half of the vessel is underway in coordination with the contractor.
The Coast Guard will continue to monitor the area. The containment boom continues to surround the vessel and sorbent pads are in place to absorb recoverable hydrocarbons.
The Coast Guard says there is some non-recoverable sheen outside of the containment boom but no reports of hydrocarbons outside of the containment boom were received.
Anyone who observes marine pollution is encouraged to contact the Coast Guard at 1-800-889-8852.