Victoria firefighters were called to a fire on board a derelict boat in the Gorge waterway Monday morning
The fire broke out on a cabin cruiser anchored in the gorge off Bamfield park.
The owners of sailboat tied up next to it urgently worked to tow it to safety.
By the time the Victoria fire department’s fire boat arrived, the vessel was already fully engulfed in flames.
“That boat out there was just flames,” said witness Peter Ransom.
“I live just up the top of hill there saw the smoke and I came down and looked out saw the boat on fire.”
Firefighters used the water pressure from their hoses to force the hull of the boat on to the shore.
Two people on-board the boat were able to escape but one was taken to hospital suffering from smoke inhalation.
Smoke from the fire could be seen for several kilometers.
Firefighters have now put a boom around the boat’s hull to ensure that no fuel leaks into the Gorge.
There is no word yet on the cause of the fire.
Ben O'Hara
