False Creek boat destroyed in fire contained 'large number of needles'
Vancouver Fire Department investigating possible floating meth lab
Vancouver firefighters have found a large number of needles on board a boat that caught fire early Friday afternoon near Science World in Vancouver's False Creek.
Two people were rescued from the boat, one suffering from apparent severe burns. Another man was reportedly uninjured.
Vancouver Fire Battalion Chief Rod MacDonald said the boat was unowned.
"It's what they call a pirate boat," he said. "We have reports there is a large amount of needles on board."
When asked whether the fire department was investigating a possible meth lab, MacDonald replied, "That will be part of the investigation. Right now we're in the preliminary stages of that."
'He was screaming'
Rade Stojnoesc, who was near the boat at the time, said two people were on the boat when there was a small explosion.
"And it [the boat] was burning from the inside," he said. "The guy had burns on his skin, like hands, face... and I think he was breathing heavily. He was reddish on the hands, swollen hands. He was screaming. And there were lots of flames."
Several boats with hoses and pumps arrived to put out the flames that engulfed the roughly 30-foot vessel.
The boat, which was seriously damaged in the incident, was eventually towed to shore before it could sink.
