RCMP investigating suspicious fire at Meteghan River boatyard

Nova Scotia RCMP are investigating a suspicious fire at a boatyard in Meteghan River.

A 10-metre pleasure craft boat called The One burned in the early hours of Friday morning at A.F. Theriault and Son, a multi-generational business in the community.

The damage to the boat is extensive. No one was injured.

"The cause of the fire is currently under investigation," said RCMP Sgt. Andrew Joyce.

Joyce said the boat was in dry dock and being stored in the yard for the winter. The owner of the vessel has been contacted and is co-operating with police, he said.

Stephane Leblanc, the yard's superintendent, told Radio-Canada that they don't know what happened and they're disappointed by the news.

"We don't want our clients to lose their property," he said in French. "We're just here to do some work."

Meteghan River is not far from where protests and violent encounters have taken place in connection with the launch of a moderate livelihood fishery by the Sipekne'katik First Nation. Joyce said there is nothing obvious other than geography that would connect Friday's fire to the fishery protests.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Meteghan RCMP at 902-645-2346. Anonymous tips can be submitted via Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.

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