A hybrid boat that had docked at the St. Andrews wharf has been removed following a fire on Dec. 3.
According to Fire Chief Kevin Theriault, firefighters from the St. Andrews Fire Department were dispatched around 3 p.m.
“Our crews responded immediately, stretched hose down the wharf, and began attacking the fire. St. George and St. Stephen responded for mutual aid, so we have quite a few firefighters on scene to keep firefighters rotating in and out,” he said in an interview with The Courier.
The hose had to be dragged down the length of the wharf due to a weight restriction at the structure’s approach. No more than 5 tonnes can cross that area without risking damage to the wooden wharf.
The boat had two lithium-ion batteries on board, in combination with diesel to operate the engine – it is known as the Hartford Hybrid.
“It’s the same as any EV fire,” Theriault said. “You try to get water on it and cool the batteries as [quickly] as you can. We just followed that guideline. We did the best job the crews could do – and they did an amazing job – that could have been a lot worse.”
It was attached to a wooden wharf –rebuilt in the 1990s following a devastating fire – so firefighters hosed down the wharf in an effort to prevent the fire from spreading to the structure.
The amount of information on proper procedure on fighting fires that involve hybrid boats is limited. The Courier searched Transport Canada’s website on combating hybrid boat fires but was unable to find specific guidelines for these types of boats.
International companies like Victaulic– which has an office in Brampton, Ont.– have developed hybrid boat fire suppression technology.
“Through water droplets smaller than white blood cells and a naturally occurring gas – nitrogen, discharged from a single emitter, Victaulic Vortex™ hybrid fire suppression system efficiently absorbs heat and reduces oxygen to extinguish fires,” it said on the company’s website.
Theriault said the boat was not intentionally sunk as part of the firefighting efforts, adding that it remains unclear why the boat went underwater.
“When firefighting efforts were done, there were still lots of gunnel (gunwale) left above water,” he said, referencing the upper edge or rim of a boat’s side, where the hull meets the deck.
Theriault was in Ottawa during the fire, but said he was monitoring the situation closely.
He explained that cutting the boat loose from the wharf to protect the structure was not an option, because it would result in an uncontrolled fire floating away, only to be discovered somewhere else.
He described the fire as “unprecedented” due to the electric components and batteries on board.
Firefighters did place absorbent booms– long floating barriers used in calm bodies of water to absorb oil, to prevent the spread and aid the cleanup– around the boat prior to its removal.
The boat is owned by the Passamaquoddy Recognition Group, which told The Courier in a statement that there were no injuries as a result of the fire.
“We continue to work closely with the appropriate authorities, insurance representatives, and the vessel’s manufacturer to ensure all cleanup and follow-up procedures are completed responsibly,” it said, while thanking the fire departments for their swift response to prevent further risk and damage.
It said it was assisting with the cleanup and working to secure safe, appropriate methods to maintain our operations.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation.
