A massive blaze engulfed the historic Queen of Sidney ferry Thursday night, sending plumes of smoke billowing above the Fraser River in Mission, British Columbia. The decommissioned vessel, once a proud symbol of BC Ferries’ fleet, became a fiery spectacle that drew emergency responders and onlookers alike to the riverbank.
The fire was reported shortly after 7 p.m., with flames rapidly consuming the abandoned ferry that has rested along the Fraser River for over a decade. According to Mission Fire Rescue Service, crews faced significant challenges accessing the vessel, which sits partially submerged in the riverbed about 70 kilometers east of Vancouver.
“The positioning of the vessel made this an extremely difficult operation,” said Mission Fire Chief Mark Goddard. “We had to deploy specialized equipment to reach the ferry while ensuring the safety of our personnel, especially given the structural instability of the derelict vessel.”
The Queen of Sidney, which served BC Ferries from 1960 to 2000, had become something of a local landmark in its retirement – albeit a controversial one. Environmental concerns have surrounded the vessel for years, with local advocacy groups and Canada’s environmental authorities raising alarms about potential contamination risks to the Fraser River ecosystem.
Witnesses described the scene as both tragic and mesmerizing. “You could see the flames from kilometers away,” said local resident Sandra Martinez. “It’s sad to see such an important piece of BC maritime history going up in smoke, but honestly, many of us have worried about what would happen with that abandoned ferry sitting there for so long.”
The ferry had previously been used as a movie set before being left to deteriorate in the river. Multiple attempts by local authorities to have the vessel properly disposed of have stalled over jurisdictional questions and financial responsibility, common challenges in Canada’s management of abandoned maritime vessels.
Environmental teams are now monitoring the situation for potential contaminants entering the water system. The Coast Guard has deployed containment measures as a precaution, though initial assessments suggest minimal immediate environmental impact.
“This incident highlights the broader issue of derelict vessels along our coastlines,” said marine environmental specialist Dr. James Chen. “These abandoned ships pose significant environmental and safety risks that often fall into regulatory gray areas.”
BC officials have launched an investigation into the cause of the fire, though early speculation points to possible trespassing or unauthorized activity aboard the vessel. No injuries have been reported.
As the community watches this chapter of maritime history potentially come to a close, questions emerge about responsibility for the hundreds of abandoned vessels dotting Canada’s coastlines. Will this dramatic blaze finally prompt meaningful action on derelict vessel legislation, or will the Queen of Sidney’s fiery end simply fade into memory as another footnote in our maritime history?
