Massive Fire Breaks Out On Barge At Scrap Metal Facility On Fraser River In Surrey

A fire broke out on a barge at a scrap metal facility on the Fraser River in Surrey, British Columbia, late Thursday night, sending a large plume of smoke across the Lower Mainland.

Surrey Fire Services received the call at around 11 p.m. and arrived to find a deck barge loaded with scrap metal fully on fire at a terminal on Musqueam Drive.

The blaze had spread across much of the vessel and was burning through the pile of metal on board.

Assistant fire chief Geoff McIntyre said the incident was quickly upgraded to a second-alarm fire due to its scale, bringing 22 fire suppression staff to the scene.

Firefighters worked from both land and water, with crews onshore directing hoses at the flames while a fireboat assisted from the river.

The barge was located near the stal̕əw̓asəm Bridge, also known as the Riverview Bridge, which connects Surrey and New Westminster.

Images shared on social media showed flames rising from the Surrey side of the river, with thick smoke visible across nearby areas. No injuries were reported.

Firefighting efforts continued through the night and into Friday. Crews are expected to remain on site, cooling down burning metal so it can be removed safely using excavators.

McIntyre said the barge falls under the jurisdiction of the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority. The cause of the fire is not yet known, and an investigation will begin once the fire is fully put out and the area is safe.

Metro Vancouver Regional District said it is monitoring air quality due to the amount of smoke coming from the fire. Officials noted that while air quality readings are available online, they may not fully show the impact from this incident.

The Canadian Coast Guard also responded, and a video shared by authorities showed a firefighting vessel using water cannons to control the blaze.

By Friday, most of the material on the barge had been reduced to ash, but crews continue working to prevent any remaining hot spots from reigniting.

References: ctvnews