Shelter-in-place advisory lifted for Mission, B.C., residents after derelict ferry fire

Investigators are still trying to figure out what caused a former BC Ferries vessel near Mission to catch fire Saturday morning.

A derelict former BC Ferries vessel docked in the Fraser River near Mission caught fire overnight, sending toxic smoke into the air and prompting a shelter-in-place warning from the city.

The blaze broke out shortly before 2 a.m. on the former Queen of Sidney, a decommissioned BC Ferries vessel that has been docked in the area for more than two decades.

Images from the scene show flames visible across the vessel and thick smoke pouring out of it.

Mission Mayor Paul Horn told reporters at a news conference Saturday morning that the ship contained “a variety of vehicles, forklifts and other scrap materials.”

“So, when Mission Fire and Rescue arrived, they chose not to put water on the fire, and instead to monitor the situation, recognizing that water would likely not effectively control the fire and might cause effluent to go into the river.”

Concerns over “hazardous emissions” prompted the City of Mission to issue a shelter-in-place advisory for residents in the area between Chester and 287 streets, south of Lougheed Highway.

In an update at 1:20 p.m. Saturday, the city announced it was lifting the advisory.

“The fire aboard the derelict Queen of Sidney ferry is largely under control but may continue to smoulder for the next couple of days,” the city said in its update.

“Mission Fire Rescue Service and the Canadian Coast Guard remain on scene and will continue monitoring the situation closely.”

The city asked the public to stay away from the area, including avoiding approaching the vessel from the water.

“It is unsafe to approach, and all road and area closures must be respected for everyone’s safety,” the city said.

‘Waiting for the inevitable’

Horn said the city has raised concerns about the Queen of Sidney and other derelict vessels moored in the Fraser River with the federal and provincial government multiple times over the years.

The most recent communication with the federal government happened in December 2023, the mayor said, noting that officials inspected the vessel and determined it was adequately moored and nothing was leaking into the river.

Horn said the city would continue to lobby senior levels of government for the ferry’s removal.

“The letter that we wrote on behalf of council to the federal government expressed our concern that we were simply waiting for the inevitable to occur, and that’s exactly what this feels like today,” Horn said. “It is very frustrating, and we know that we’re joined by many other communities that express this same frustration.”

One of those other communities is Maple Ridge, where Mayor Dan Ruimy expressed similar frustration after the sinking of the so-called “McBarge” just over a month ago.

• Read more: ‘We need to find a path forward’: Maple Ridge mayor wary of long cleanup after sinking of famous ‘McBarge’

Cause of fire yet to be determined

Earlier in the day Saturday, the city said the cause of the fire had not been determined, but the blaze is considered suspicious.

Mission RCMP did not describe the fire as “suspicious” in its own statement on the matter.

Rather, the detachment said “at this time, there is nothing to indicate the fire was intentionally set,” though police have been unable to board the vessel because of the hazardous nature of the smoke and the overall condition of the ship.

Police said Mission Search and Rescue was called out to monitor the situation from the river.

Other responding agencies, according to the city, include Mission Fire Rescue Service, the provincial and federal Environment ministries and the Canadian Coast Guard.