It is often in the stillness of early morning, when the water lies like glass and the sky is a pale whisper of light, that unexpected disruption arrives. On a chilly Sunday in Sidney, British Columbia, that stillness was broken by tongues of flame and the scent of smoke drifting over Van Isle Marina — a place that on most days reflects peaceful masts and quiet conversations by the water’s edge. In the span of minutes, the quiet harbour became a tableau of urgency, resilience, and loss, drawing neighbors and emergency crews alike into a scene where the ordinary met the extraordinary.
In the first light of Feb. 1, firefighters were called to Van Isle Marina after reports of a significant fire among moored vessels. Witnesses described thick smoke rising above the docks and flames that quickly engulfed multiple boats as crews from Sidney Fire Department and neighboring districts worked to contain the blaze.
By the time the fire was brought under control, three large yachts had been destroyed and ultimately sank in place at their slips, their hulls now resting beneath the harbour surface. Although some nearby boats suffered heat and surface damage, crews succeeded in keeping the fire from spreading further — a delicate ballet between fire hose and fuel, water and wind.
Those early hours saw roughly 20 firefighters laboring in concert, deploying marina fire pumps and working closely with North Saanich Fire and Central Saanich Fire crews to protect neighbouring vessels and shore infrastructure. Their focus, as firefighters described it, was not only battling the visible flames but also safeguarding what lay beyond them — the boats, docks, and lives woven into this maritime community.
Environmental concerns quickly moved from the abstract to the immediate. As the yachts sank, fuel and debris presented a delicate threat to harbour waters, prompting swift contact with agencies such as the Canadian Coast Guard, Western Canada Marine Response, and the provincial Ministry of Environment to begin spill containment and mitigation efforts. In a place where water reflects not just sky but the rhythms of life and livelihood, such care underscored the layers of stewardship bound up in waterfront living.
Though the flames claimed the three vessels, no injuries have been reported — a fact that brought relief amid the damage and disruption. Van Isle Marina, in statements shared with regional outlets, expressed condolences to the yacht owners affected while emphasizing ongoing efforts to assess and recover both the scene and the sunken vessels.
In the moments after a fire, when water rises around what once floated steadily, there is a poignant pause — a quiet reckoning with what was lost and what remains. For Sidney’s waterfront community, that pause now turns toward repair, reflection, and the careful work of healing both harbour and heart.
As of Sunday afternoon, investigations into the cause of the fire had not been completed, and officials cautioned that determining a clear origin may prove difficult given the extensive damage and the sinking of the damaged yachts.
Despite the sunken hulls and charred timbers, the marina’s broader rhythms — of tides, traffic, and life between land and sea — continue, buoyed by the steadfast efforts of responders and the quiet resilience of those who call this coastal corner home.
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Sources : Times Colonist Victoria Buzz Oak Bay News KamloopsBCNow VictoriaNow