The dock and attached boat ramp at Brannen Lake are closed following a fire on Tuesday, May 24. (Alex Rawnsley/NanaimoNewsNOW & submitted photo)

By NanaimoNewsNOW Staff

MELTED

Fireworks lead to destruction of Brannen Lake boat launch dock

May 26, 2022 | 3:16 PM

NANAIMO — Fireworks are believed responsible for the destruction of a dock at Brannen Lake.

The surface of the dock was melted and the structure partially submerged after a fire just before midnight on Tuesday, May 24 near the boat launch at the end of Dunster Rd.

Fireworks were spotted by area residents in the lead-up to the blaze with Cst. Gary O’Brien telling NanaimoNewsNOW it’s troubling the fire wasn’t reported sooner.

“The fire would have been seen by anybody living in the area, and probably by the people who set off the fireworks too, and nobody reported it besides some good Samaritans.”

Police believe a spark from the fireworks hit the highly flammable foam under the surface of the dock and set it alight.

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They are now focusing on identifying those responsible, who were apparently lighting off fireworks from on or near the dock.

O’Brien added fires on large bodies of water are exceedingly rare.

“Not common at all. We have yet to see a significant fire like that near a water source.”

Nanaimo Fire Rescue doused the dock and were able to extinguish the fire, but not without considerable damage estimated to be worth thousands of dollars.

The boat ramp at Brannen Lake is closed following a fire Tuesday night believed to have been started by fireworks. (Alex Rawnsley/NanaimoNewsNOW)

The boat launch and the dock were both taped off by the City of Nanaimo after the fire.

NanaimoNewsNOW has reached out to the City to indicate when repairs or replacement of the dock might be made, and how long the boat ramp is expected to be closed for.

The ramp is extremely popular during summer months for recreational activities on Brannen Lake.

Anyone with information on the fire or the fireworks at Brannen Lake that evening is asked to contact the Nanaimo RCMP.

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