Flames and black smoke could be seen rising from boat

A 44-foot vessel burned and sank in the Port of Sidney Marina Saturday. (Mark Westgate)

A boat went up in flames and sank to the bottom of the Port Sidney Marina on Saturday afternoon.

Sidney RCMP received a call for assistance from the Sidney Volunteer Fire Department around 2:45 p.m. Saturday.

Upon arriving, RCMP found a 45-foot Meridian 411 vessel completely engulfed in flames, according to Cpl. Claude Paterson of Sidney RCMP.

Thick plumes of black smoke accompanied the flames shooting from the boat.

RELATED: Fire and explosion sends boat to bottom of Selkirk Waterway

“Visibility was absolutely nil,” Paterson said. “The smoke was so thick from the burning boat and dock. It smelled terrible.”

Members of the public were kept back from the dock as firefighters navigated the black cloud to try control the fire.

The boat, structurally unstable and disconnected from the dock after its tethering ropes burnt, subsequently sank to the bottom of the bay.

A two-deck vessel moored next to it has extensive damage from the fire.

A sheen could be seen on the water where the boat sank. An oil absorbent boom and soaker pads were put on the water to mitigate spills.

Firefighters at the scene were sprayed down and assessed for smoke inhalation as they came off the dock.

Canadian Coast Guard is currently working with the owner to deal with environmental concerns and retrieval of the vessel.

RELATED: Boat catches fire, leading to rescue at sea in Nanaimo

The owner of the boat is a long time Sidney resident who has been moored in the Port Sidney Marina since it opened, according to Paterson.

Nobody was injured and the cause of the fire has yet to be determined.

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Extensive damage can be seen on a vessel next to one that caught fire and sank in the Port Sidney Marina on Saturday. (Keri Coles/News Staff)