Boat catches fire, explodes in Fraser River near Musqueam
Posted January 31, 2021 6:17 pm.
Last Updated January 31, 2021 6:18 pm.
VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) — Three people escaped serious injury by jumping overboard when their boat exploded on the Fraser River Sunday afternoon.
The metal boat burst into flames around 3 p.m. after being launched from Musqueam, according to the Vancouver Police Department.
“Based on the initial investigation, it appears the owners recently purchased the 20-foot aluminum jet boat and were taking it for a test drive in the river when a fire started near the fuel tank, which had recently been replaced. It’s believed
the fire led to the explosion,” reads a statement.
“Three people on board, two men in their 40s and a teenager, avoided serious injury by jumping overboard and hanging on to the side of the boat.”
VPD's Marine Unit responded this afternoon after a boat carrying three people exploded in the Fraser River. Two men in their 40s and a teenager avoided serious injury by jumping overboard and hanging on to the side of the boat. https://t.co/RKDQI5Dotw
— Vancouver Police (@VancouverPD) February 1, 2021
Police say the three didn’t have time to put on lifejackets, but pushed the boat to shallow water while it burned.
No fines, or criminal charges are expected and no significant environmental damage was found to have occurred.