Dragon Boat Society canoes destroyed in 'suspicious' early morning fire
Fire at boat storage facility in False Creek destroys 11 outrigger canoes, but dragon boats unharmed
An early morning fire at a boat storage facility in Vancouver's False Creek has destroyed about 11 outrigger canoes owned by the Dragon Boat Society that were being stored there.
The Vancouver Park Board says the cause of the fire is still under investigation, but it is being treated as suspicious.
Anita Webster, spokeswoman for the Canadian International Dragon Boat Festival Society, says they learned around 4:30 a.m. PT Sunday of a fire at the society's equipment trailer on south False Creek.
"These were one-person outrigger canoes that we were just beginning to get into renting and leasing," she said. "This is the biggest loss for us. These were new boats. They’re hard to get and it was a fun new era we were getting into."
Webster says the smaller boats were lost along with life-jackets, paddles and other equipment, but the dragon boats themselves were not harmed.
"It’s difficult for the society," she said. "We’ve had a lot of trouble with that area, with that trailer. It’s suffered many break-ins over the years."
However, Webster says that will soon change.
"What we’re looking forward to immensely is our new permanent boathouse on False Creek and we’re hoping that is going to be ready for June," she said. "We’re really looking forward to having proper facilities on the water."
Webster says the outriggers are worth about $2,000 each.