Coast Guard finds fuel in water after Port Moody marina fire

After five boats sank in a fire at the Reed Point Marina in Port Moody on Saturday, the Canadian Coast Guard (CCG) announced that it spotted diesel fuel outside the marina.

“Small, broken-up traces of fuel were seen outside the marina, while fuel that could be collected was found inside the containment area,” CCG spokesperson Craig Macartney told The Leader Spirit.

Firefighters responded to the incident after 1 a.m. on Dec. 27.

The cause of the fire has not been determined yet.

After the fire was extinguished, staff at the Reed Point Marina placed a containment boom around the sunken boats to reduce the spread of fuel.

However, the CCG found “small, broken-up traces of fuel” when inspecting the marina, Burrard Inlet (East), and Indian Arm.

Macartney says that CCG crews then used pollution response equipment to collect the diesel fuel and recovered the absorbent materials with a contractor.

Additionally, the CCG made sure that the containment boom remained effective in the marina as fuel was still leaking from the sunken boats on Sunday.

The leaking stopped when divers sealed the fuel vents later on Sunday.

CCG crews are waiting for the boat owners’ insurance companies to clear the removal of the sunken vessels.

Investigators hope that this will shine light on the cause of the fire, as an examination of the sunken boats has not been possible.

Port Moody Fire Rescue says the investigator will talk to the owners about possible heaters on board or other potential sources of the fire.

“Under Canada’s ‘polluter pays’ principle, boat owners are responsible for addressing risks or hazards caused by their vessels and for covering the related costs,” Macartney explained.

“This includes cleanup, repairs, and any response actions taken by the CCG.”