RCMP arrest three youth after fire destroys historic railcar on Vancouver Island

Mounties say they have arrested three youth in connection with a fire on Tuesday, June 16, 2026, that destroyed a historic railway car in Port Alberni, B.C., seen in this handout photo. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Handout — Port Alberni RCMP (Mandatory Credit)

VICTORIA — Police on Vancouver Island say they have arrested three young people in connection with a fire that destroyed a historic railcar.

RCMP in Port Alberni say they made the arrests after a witness saw three people running from the scene of the fire, first reported around 3 p.m. on Tuesday, June 16.

A statement from the Mounties says closed circuit video showed three suspects entering the rail car before the fire, then climbing out of it before smoke and flames were visible.

Police say the fire caused irreparable damage to the historic artifact, which was part of the Alberni Pacific Railway, a heritage railway operated by the Western Vancouver Island Industrial Heritage Society.

A statement from the society says the fire on Tuesday was the not first act of vandalism against its equipment, but it has since received an outpouring of support.

The society says it is directing donations toward the railcar’s restoration, unless otherwise specified.

“While the damage is extensive, your support have given us hope,” it says in a statement.

The railcar is described as a 1930s Comox Logging Crew Speeder, which the society says was more than just a rail vehicle.

“It was a unique artifact from our region’s logging and railway history, and a tangible connection to the men and women who helped build the communities of Vancouver Island.”

Port Alberni, B.C., is located on the western side of Vancouver Island, and was once a major logging centre.

This report by Wolfgang Depner, The Canadian Press, was first published June 18, 2026.