Just after 4:00 a.m. on December 8, officers in the police parking lot on Spyglass heard a loud explosion and saw smoke coming from a sailboat under the Cambie Street Bridge. The Coast Guard, Vancouver Fire Rescue, and Emergency Health Services quickly arrived. The boat burned and capsized, but luckily there was no one on board.
The Coast Guard secured the wreckage to the shoreline and dealt with the environmental concerns. VPD Marine Unit investigators, in dry suits and snorkel gear, searched for evidence along the shoreline and in the water as part of their investigation to determine the cause of the explosion and fire.
The Coast Guard had contacted the owner the day before the explosion due to marine safety issues. He was contacted again and allegedly admitted to having propane on the boat, but had no idea how it caught on fire.
The VPD Marine Unit continues to investigate, along with Vancouver Fire Rescue and Transport Canada.
