The Sidney Fire Department says there are minor injuries associated with a Sea-Doo fire at the Tulista Park Boat Launch on Thursday.
The boat launch was briefly closed, but reopened Thursday afternoon. The fire department says one dock is closed due to damage from the fire.
Brett Mikkelson, Sidney’s fire chief, says the call came in at 2:09 p.m. and 12 firefighters responded to the call.
“The smoke was quite evident from a few kilometres away,” Mikkelson said. “Our whole crew, which is just a couple blocks away, managed to get there quite quick and basically, the fire was well involved in the Sea-Doo by the time they got there.”
Mikkelson says the Sea-Doo sank and then the Sidney Fire Department was finally able to pull the hull out of the water.
The whole process took about 40 minutes from the time the crew arrived on scene.
The operator of the Sea-Doo had minor first degree burns to his legs and was scene by paramedics at the scene but was not brought to hospital.
There is not yet a suspected cause, and the investigators will be looking into it Friday.
Mikkelson says public works came out to assess the damage to the dock, and it will be their final call on the reopening of the damaged portion of the dock.
The Town of Sidney said the extent of the damage will be assessed over the next few days, but there is no cost estimate at this time. The damaged portion of the dock is cordoned off, but the undamged portions are still usable.
“Due to the capacity limitations, we hope users will be patient, and allow more time for careful use of the facility,” the statement says.
While the Sea-Doo fire was occurring, Mikkelson says there was a medical call that came in at the same time and thankfully, the North Saanich Fire Department was able to respond due to the two department’s mutual aid agreement.
The Tulista Park Boat Launch is open following a fire incident, but please be cautioned that part of the dock is damaged and not available for use.#Sidney #YYJNews @townofsidneybc @SidneyAnglers pic.twitter.com/1p8MJdpv2n
— Sidney Fire Dept (@SidneyFireDept) August 17, 2023
An incident with a sea-doo on fire has resulted in a temporary closure of the Tulista Park Boat Launch. Minor injuries have been reported. We will advise when the Tulista Park Boat Launch is back open.#Sidney #YYJNews @townofsidneybc @SidneyAnglers
— Sidney Fire Dept (@SidneyFireDept) August 17, 2023
Laura Brougham
