2 rescued after boat catches fire, sinks off Vancouver Island
Two people were rescued after their boat caught fire off Qualicum Beach, B.C., north of Parksville, on Monday afternoon.
Reports of the fire came in around noon, according to Maritime Forces Pacific (MARPAC) spokesperson Sub-Lt. Wilson Ho.
The Joint Rescue Coordination Centre in Victoria dispatched the Canadian Coast Guard's fast response craft, French Creek One, to the fire aboard a 12-metre vessel.
Once there, emergency crews picked up two people from the burning vessel, according to Ho. The pair were then taken to paramedics on shore for assessment.
According to the coast guard, the boat was located about one nautical mile away from shore.
The fire was reported around noon Monday. (Court Brooker)
The vessel had about 1,000 litres of diesel on board, as well as three propane tanks.
The boat burned for most of the day before it sank in 300 feet (90 metres) of water Monday evening, according to the coast guard.
Coast guard members reported that most of the fuel onboard had burned throughout the day, and that there was a "minimal non-recoverable sheen" around 8 p.m.
A coast guard environmental response team is back in the area Tuesday to monitor for fuel leakage from the remains of the boat, according to Ho.
The coast guard says it's currently unclear how the fire started.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
What to know about avian influenza in dairy cows and the risk to humans
Why is H5N1, or bird flu, a concern, how does it spread, and is there a vaccine? Here are the answers to some frequently asked questions about avian influenza.
'I was scared': Ontario man's car repossessed after missing two repair loan payments
An Ontario man who took out a loan to pay for auto repairs said his car was repossessed after he missed two payments.
opinion The special relationship between King Charles and the Princess of Wales
Royal commentator Afua Hagan writes that when King Charles recently admitted Catherine to the Order of the Companions of Honour, it not only made history, but it reinforced the strong bond between the King and his beloved daughter-in-law.
New Norad commander calls Canada's defence policy update 'very encouraging'
American troops will be spending more time training in the Far North, the new commander of Norad says, a strategy that fits 'hand-in-glove' with Canada's renewed focus on Arctic defence.
$70M Lotto Max winners kept prize a secret from family for 2 months
During a special winner celebration near their hometown, Doug and Enid shared the story of how they discovered they were holding a Lotto Max ticket worth $70 million and how they kept this huge secret for so long.
Are Canadians getting sick from expired food?
A new survey by Dalhousie University's Agri-Food Analytics Lab asked Canadians about their food consumption habits amid rising prices.
Documents reveal Ottawa's efforts to get Loblaw, Walmart on board with grocery code
It was evident to the federal government as early as last fall that Loblaw and Walmart might be holdouts to the grocery code of conduct, jeopardizing the project's success.
Charlie Woods, son of Tiger, shoots 81 in U.S. Open qualifier
Charlie Woods failed to advance in a U.S. Open local qualifying event Thursday, shooting a 9-over 81 at Legacy Golf & Tennis Club.
Improve balance and build core strength with this exercise
When it comes to cardiovascular fitness, you may tend to focus on activities that move you forward, such as walking, running and cycling.