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Fireworks suspected of destroying dock at lake in Nanaimo

Boat launch dock at Brannen Lake suffered heavy damage
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Nanaimo RCMP suspect a firework sparked a fire that heavily damaged a public dock at Brannen Lake. (Submitted photo)

Nanaimo RCMP and Nanaimo Fire Rescue are investigating after a fire caused heavy damage to a dock at a public boat launch.

Fire crews and police responded to a fire at the Brannen Lake boat launch at 5500 Dunster Rd., at about 11:15 p.m. Wednesday, May 25.

According to a Nanaimo RCMP press release, fire crews, and a witness, advised that it appeared the fire was caused by an errant firework that had landed on the dock. A portion of the dock was destroyed.

Witnesses told police they first saw bright lights high in the sky that are normally associated to fireworks and about 30 minutes later, a witness reported seeing flames shooting up from the dock.

Fire crews were able to extinguish the blaze, but not before it caused several thousand dollars in damage. A spark from the firework was most likely what ignited the highly flammable foam liner on the dock, the release noted.

“It was going pretty good when we got there,” Stu Kenning, Nanaimo Fire Rescue assistant chief of operations, told the News Bulletin.

Kenning said, from the remains of the burned portion of the dock, it was not possible to say if the fire was the result of an accident or vandalism.

Police, nevertheless, are asking whoever might have been responsible to step forward.

“It would be difficult to imagine that whoever set the fireworks off did not realize what they had done. The person or people responsible need to do the right thing and step up and take responsibility,” reserve Const. Gary O’Brien, Nanaimo RCMP spokesperson, said in the press release.

Anyone with information about the fire, or whoever was setting off fireworks at Brannen Lake the night of May 25, is asked to call the Nanaimo RCMP non-emergency line at 250-754-2345, and quote file # 2022-17469.



photos@nanaimobulletin.com
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