logo
Residents of Mission, B.C., told to shelter in place after fire on derelict vessel

Residents of Mission, B.C., told to shelter in place after fire on derelict vessel

CBC03-05-2025
Some residents of the Fraser Valley city of Mission have been told to shelter in place after a fire on a derelict vessel overnight on Saturday.
The City of Mission issued an emergency alert just before 4 a.m. PT warning of a fire on the abandoned Queen of Sidney ferry, which was moored just northwest of Matsqui Island approximately 55 km east of Vancouver.
B.C. Ferries says the ship was in operation from 1960 to 2000. The 102-metre vessel was sold in 2002. Its current owner is unknown.
On its website, Mission says the cause of the fire is not yet known but it is considered to be suspicious.
Residents near the fire — from Chester Street to 287 Street, including the Silverdale area — have been told to stay indoors, close all windows and doors, and turn off any ventilation systems that draw in air from outside.
CBC News has reached out to the Canadian Coast Guard for this story. A spokesperson for the Environment Ministry deferred comment to the Mission fire department.
The Queen of Sidney is among a number of derelict vessels along B.C. waterways that have raised environmental concerns in recent years, particularly given they could pose public safety risks.
In late March, the iconic McBarge vessel — a barge which housed a McDonald's restaurant during Expo 86 — sank on the Fraser River near Maple Ridge, B.C., northwest of where the Queen of Sidney was moored.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Boat sailing for Greenland missing off Labrador
Boat sailing for Greenland missing off Labrador

Winnipeg Free Press

time3 minutes ago

  • Winnipeg Free Press

Boat sailing for Greenland missing off Labrador

ST. JOHN'S – Officials say a six-metre sailboat headed for Greenland is missing off the southeast coast of Labrador. The Canadian Coast Guard says the boat was reported overdue on Sunday by a concerned citizen who called the maritime rescue centre in St. John's, N.L. Officials say the vessel — called the Tonnerre — departed from Blanc-Sablon, Que., and its lone occupant is on a solo voyage to Greenland. The Tonnerre's last known position was recorded last week about 296 kilometres east of Cartwright, N.L. Several aircraft and coast guard ships, including the Des Groseilliers and Amundsen, have been looking for the missing boat. The coast guard says there have been no sightings of the vessel nor communications from it since the search began. This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 23, 2025.

Search underway for missing boater off Labrador coast
Search underway for missing boater off Labrador coast

CBC

timea day ago

  • CBC

Search underway for missing boater off Labrador coast

A search and rescue effort is underway for a missing boater off the east coast of Labrador, a Joint Rescue Coordination Centre spokesperson told CBC News on Tuesday. The missing boater is aboard a 20-foot sailboat, with a last reported position — from one week ago — estimated to be 296 kilometres, or 160 nautical miles, off of Cartwright. The JRCC said the sailor had been updating friends and posting on social media about the trip. The last time they were heard from was on Thursday. A Hercules aircraft was deployed from Trenton, Ont., and the Canadian Coast Guard sent vessels to the area to participate in the search. PAL aircraft are also helping in the search. The JRCC said the person is from Tadoussac, Que., and sailed out of Blanc Sablon with the intention of reaching Greenland. No other details are available.

Chippewa of the Thames First Nation residents told not to consume tap water
Chippewa of the Thames First Nation residents told not to consume tap water

CBC

time2 days ago

  • CBC

Chippewa of the Thames First Nation residents told not to consume tap water

The 1,000 people who live in Chippewa of the Thames First Nation have been told not to drink the water coming out of their taps because of broken, aging infrastructure that can't keep up with the demands of the community, Chief Joe Miskokomon told CBC News. "It's been a problem at Chippewa for decades," Miskokomon said. "We have an inadequate delivery system and an inadequate filtration system, and so it's been a struggle to maintain quality water. The system is not good enough to meet the growing needs of our community." Residents have been told to not use their tap water for drinking, cooking, brushing their teeth or using it for baby formula. Boiling the water will not make it safe, officials say. "It's unfiltered, raw water," Miskokomon said. "It goes through a two-stage filtration and the last stop is where the micro-organisms are being filtered out of the water. We're having trouble keeping that filter. It's supposed to last for a month, but we're going through them every three days." Pumps that should only run eight hours per day have been running 24-7, the chief said. Water deliveries are being arranged and the u-fill station will be operating on extended hours, from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. Staff will be on-site to help fill and carry just for people who need assistance, Miskokomon said. The issue of poor water quality in First Nations communities has been frustrating for leaders and residents, he added. "We're getting to the point where our system is so overworked and out of date that it can only handle so much. There needs to be a whole rethinking on how to do infrastructure within First Nations." The problem with the Chippewa water was caught at 5 a.m. Monday, Miskokomon said. The nation is waiting for deliveries of specialized filters, he added. The fix is expected to take about a week. "We've been faced with this now for 20 years," the chief said. "It just speaks to the inability of government to address health and safety concerns and issues within First Nations, not only within Chippewa of the Thames First Nation, but quite truthfully, nearly every First Nation in southwestern Ontario and indeed, many across Canada."

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store