Delta firefighters doused an early-morning fire in a houseboat along River Road, Aug. 25.
According to Deputy Fire Chief Tim Ipsen, the fire broke out between 2:30 and 3 a.m., in the 4000-block of River Road. The cause of the fire hasn’t yet been determined, but there were no injuries reported.
Ipsen said the fire started in a smaller boat then spread to the houseboat, which was destroyed by the blaze.
“The occupant was down the road, so nobody was there,” he said.
Firefighters were able to access the fire via the dock.
However, Mike Owen, who lives along the river, says there’s a need for a shallow-draft fire boat along the Fraser River in Ladner.
He also suggests the fire department create a list of boat owners that could help out during an emergency.
He added that a burning boat that’s a drift in the river could start a fire on Westham Island or in Ladner.
But Ipsen said Delta Fire and Emergency Services have no plans for a water-borne firefighting vessel, although it is looking at sourcing a rescue boat.
“It’s definitely not on our radar right now. More so, we’re looking at more of a rescue-type boat but not a firefighting boat,” he said.
He said the department keeps a contact list of agencies that could help with access to the water.
“We were lucky last night — almost no wind, calm waters and not really large, multi-storey structures. Ladner’s waterfront is far too valuable to be left un-thought of,” said Owen.
