A water taxi carrying 31 Grade 6-12 students heading to school caught fire Thursday.
Gulf Islands Water Taxi crew members quickly contained the engine-room blaze and no one was injured.
The students on the water taxi, named the Graduate, were from Mayne and Galiano islands. They were in Active Pass at the time of the fire, on their way to Pender and Salt Spring islands, said Gulf Islands School District secretary-treasurer Jesse Guy.
The crew was alerted by an alarm and the fire was reported to the Joint Rescue Co-ordination Centre about 7:40 a.m.
Two coast guard vessels based on Salt Spring and B.C. Ferries ship Coastal Renaissance responded, said Lt.-Cmdr. Tony Smith, spokesman for the rescue co-ordination centre. The Coastal Renaissance launched a small boat but it wasn’t needed.
A second water taxi, the Scholarship, rerouted to pick up the students to continue their journey while the coast guard towed the Graduate away.
The stricken vessel was relayed to Gulf Islands Water Taxi and taken for repairs in Sidney.
District staff met students when they arrived at their destinations, Guy said.
“We have been assured by Gulf Islands Water Taxi, the contract holder of our district student water-taxi transportation, that all safety procedures were followed during the incident,” Guy said.
“Students have access to counselling supports at their schools if they wish to discuss the incident. We have reached out to each impacted family and will continue to do so.”
jbell@timescolonist.com
