New details in boat blaze that sent smoke billowing over Port Stanley

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Police on Monday offered new details about the cause of a boat fire that sent plumes of black smoke over Port Stanley – and across social media – during a warm, busy weekend in the London-area beach town.

Ontario Provincial Police say they were called to a blaze at a Carlow Road marina involving three “vessels” at about 1 p.m. on Saturday. One vessel had an occupant, who “exited the vessel prior to it becoming engulfed in flames,” police said.

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The other two were empty, police said, adding there were no injuries. Central Elgin fire officials have determined the blaze was not suspicious in nature, police said.

Officers with the OPP Elgin detachment, St. Thomas paramedics and Central Elgin firefighters were among the emergency crews called to the scene, police said.

An image posted to social media by police indicated that all three boats were heavily damaged by the blaze, with smoke shown still wafting from what appeared to be charred vessels.

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A video posted to social media showed plumes of thick, black smoke billowing into the air as the fire raged. The incident drew widespread attention once the video was posted online.

“That’s so incredibly unfortunate. Glad no one was hurt,” one person wrote on social media.

Added another person: “A sad start to boat season for a few families.”

There was no damage estimate made public by police.

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