By NanaimoNewsNOW Staff

Boat fire explosions caused by propane cylinders: Fire investigators

Nov 10, 2017 | 1:03 PM

NANAIMO — Fire investigators now know what sparked a sizable explosion onboard a docked boat which had caught fire.

The roughly 45-foot boat caught fire the night of Saturday, Nov. 4. at the Stones Marina Boatyard on Stewart Ave. Footage from customers inside the nearby Millers Landing Pub showed the fire consume the under-repair boat and then an explosion shoot flames high into the air.

Nanaimo Fire Rescue investigator Ennis Mond told NanaimoNewsNOW the explosions were caused by four propane cylinders, three inside the boat and one of which flew outside.

“They do launch and they do fragment. People have to be very careful of where they keep those propane cylinders,” Mond said.

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Though propane canisters are often stored indoors or in the back of trucks, Mond said it’s best to have them safely outside and away from anything which could cause them to overheat so they don’t damage any property or first responders tackling the blaze.

Mond said the investigation into the fire is progressing smoothly, though there’s no cause as of yet.

No one was injured in the fire.

spencer@nanaimonewsnow.com

On Twitter: @spencer_sterrit