By Ian Holmes

Boat goes up in flames off Gabriola Island, five rescued

Aug 30, 2017 | 6:45 PM

NANAIMO — Five people were rescued from a burning fishing boat off Gabriola Island’s southeast side.

A Joint Rescue Coordination Centre official in Victoria told NanaimoNewsNOW the 72 foot boat caught fire late Wednesday afternoon about 5 kilometres from Silva Bay.

It’s not immediately clear what caused the fire or if any of the passengers from the U.S. based boat were injured.

Nanaimo Port Authority harbour master Edward Dahlgren said one of their harbour patrol vessels was tasked to the scene.

“To maintain an exclusion circle clear of the burning wreck to ensure that no vessels are placed at risk by proceeding to close in case of an explosion.”

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The Authority helped knock down the fire on the boat, which was then towed to shore to extinguish the fire in an environmentally-safe way and avoid any pollution. 

Dahlgren said a Coast Guard hovercraft transported the rescued boaters to Richmond.

ian@NanaimoNewsNOW.com

On Twitter:@reporterholmes.