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

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
7 hours ago
- Yahoo
Abandoned St. Mary's fish sauce plant finally getting cleaned up, says mayor
After years of calling for the clean up at a long-abandoned fish sauce plant, the mayor of St. Mary's is celebrating that the end is finally in sight — something he says he once doubted would ever happen. The Atlantic Seafood Sauce Co. plant in St. Mary's, on Newfoundland's Avalon Peninsula, has not operated in two decades. Over the years, residents have complained about the rancid smell and vats of decomposing sauce inside the derelict building. Mayor Steve Ryan said the provincial government has set aside money in the recent budget for its clean up, an amount he declined to disclose. "We finally are almost over the finish line," Ryan told CBC Radio's The Broadcast. He said the town is working with the Department of Environment and Climate Change to write a tender for a consultant, who will then help the town select a company that can clean the site of the former plant. In 2023, CBC Investigates uncovered an Environment Canada report in 2016 on testing results on effluent from the abandoned facility. It had found effluent killed fish within 15 minutes, and was described as "acutely lethal" to fish. A pipe was sealed to stop the effluent from running into the water. In a previous interview, Ryan told CBC News the community was never informed about the Environment Canada laboratory results. Ryan said the funding is good news for the town, and it comes after years of trying to get movement on the problem. He credits Placentia-St. Mary's MHA Sherry Gambin-Walsh for the help, as well as former premier Andrew Furey. Many residents thought the clean up would never happen, he said. It's been a for the last 10-year battle of his own, and there were times when he almost gave up. "The day that I got a call from our MHA to say that this has happened, it's in the budget, I got to say, it was pretty emotional," he said. Gambin-Walsh said she has been working on the problem since she was first elected in 2015, and after a lot of collaboration the province is going to financially support the removal of the vats. "As the MHA, all I can tell you is that I've been persistent in getting this cleaned up," she told CBC News. WATCH | There's relief over a potential clean up that could clear the air in St. Mary's: She said the town taking ownership of the plant was a key part in solving the problem. Like Ryan, she declined to state the amount the province is providing. "I don't think it will be a good idea for me to disclose that amount in this tendering competitive process," said Gambin-Walsh. Timing was also a key part of moving the work forward, as there are concerns that the aging building will collapse. Gambin-Walsh said cleaning it up now is a precautionary measure. "The building is getting old and, you know, I don't think it can safely contain the material much longer," she said. "So we really do need to remove it." Download our free CBC News app to sign up for push alerts for CBC Newfoundland and Labrador. Sign up for our daily headlines newsletter here. Click here to visit our landing page
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Yahoo
Monument honours service dogs assisting veterans, first responders with PTSD
Service dogs serve many purposes, including helping veterans navigate post-traumatic stress disorder. In the small community of Kimberley in B.C.'s East Kootenay, these four-legged life-savers are being recognized through a monument in the city's downtown. CBC News' Corey Bullock was at the unveiling.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Yahoo
Canadian Coast Guard Welcomes New Fleet Officers at College Graduation Ceremony
SYDNEY, NS, June 7, 2025 /CNW/ - For the past six decades, the Canadian Coast Guard College has been a leader in maritime training, equipping students with the skills needed to safeguard Canada's waters. Today, the College is celebrating its latest graduates, welcoming 51 new Officers to the Canadian Coast Guard. The Honourable Joanne Thompson, Minister of Fisheries, honoured the graduating class of 2025 during a ceremony at the Canadian Coast Guard College in Sydney, Nova Scotia. Minister Thompson was joined by Deputy Minister, Annette Gibbons and Canadian Coast Guard Commissioner, Mario Pelletier. The Officer Training program plays an important role in ensuring the Coast Guard has the professional employees it needs to provide essential services to Canadians. The graduates have spent the last four years studying and getting hands-on experience of ship operations and cutting-edge knowledge in marine technology. Now, they will be joining vessels across the country in various positions to put their skills to use in protecting Canadians, the environment, and ensuring safe navigation. The Canadian Coast Guard College is an internationally-recognized maritime training facility that provides training and services in both official languages. This year, the College is celebrating it's 60th anniversary of training Canadian Coast Guard personnel. Since its establishment more than 1,500 Fleet Officers have graduated from the College. Quotes "For the past 60 years, the Canadian Coast Guard College has been one of our country's most trusted, respected and cherished institutions. Congratulations to our newest graduates as they embark on a long, rewarding and adventurous career with the Canadian Coast Guard. The Honourable Joanne Thompson, Minister of Fisheries "The Canadian Coast Guard is proud to welcome this year's graduating class into its ranks. As a graduate of the College myself, I can attest to the commitment these students have put forth over the past four years and congratulate them on their success. These graduates will now put their dedication and skills to serving Canadians as part of our Coast Guard family." Mario Pelletier, Commissioner, Canadian Coast Guard Quick facts Established in September 1965, the Canadian Coast Guard College offers the opportunity to train in either Marine Navigation or Marine Engineering in its four-year Officer Training Program. The program provides Officer Cadets with a thorough understanding of ship operations and the latest in marine technology. All Canadian Coast Guard College students receive free tuition, a training allowance, and free room and board. Graduates of the Officer Training Program receive a Bachelor of Technology (Nautical Sciences) Degree from Cape Breton University and a Diploma from the Canadian Coast Guard College. Navigation Officers receive a Transport Canada Watchkeeping Mate Certificate, and Marine Engineering Officers receive a Fourth Class Engineering Certificate from Transport Canada. Associated links Canadian Coast Guard College Canadian Coast Guard College: Officer Training Program Start Your Career With the Canadian Coast Guard Stay Connected Follow the Canadian Coast Guard on X, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and LinkedIn. SOURCE Canadian Coast Guard View original content: