Fire forces evacuation of P.E.I.-N.S. ferry as fisherman, first responders rush to rescue

Greater than 200 individuals had been safely evacuated from a ferry travelling from Nova Scotia to Prince Edward Island on Friday, after a fireplace broke out within the vessel’s engine room.

The fireplace broke out on board MV Vacation Island round 11 a.m. AT, about an hour into its crossing from Caribou, N.S., to Wooden Islands, P.E.I.

“Ship’s crew and security methods contained the fireplace,” mentioned Don Cormier, vice-president of Northumberland Ferries. “Captain took crucial precautions and dropped each anchors and directed the ship onto a mushy shoal exterior the harbour entrance to Wooden Islands.”

Cormier mentioned there have been no accidents to passengers or crew. The remainder of Friday’s crossings had been cancelled as a result of MV Vacation Island was blocking the trail for the corporate’s different vessel, MV Confederation.

The Transportation Security Board of Canada is investigating the trigger.

Myles MacDonald, an auxiliary Coast Guard member who additionally fishes crab and scallops out of Wooden Islands, rushed to the scene in his boat when he heard the ferry had caught fireplace.

He pulled up alongside the Vacation Island as passengers hopped down an evacuation chute into a rubber dinghy. From there, they climbed onto his fishing boat. 

“Everyone acquired alongside fairly good. It is a miracle,” MacDonald mentioned.

Everyone acquired alongside fairly good. It is a miracle— Myles MacDonald

MacDonald made two journeys to shore carrying a complete of 113 of the 225 individuals he was informed had been on board.

Different rescue vessels, together with the Coast Guard and Joint Rescue Coordination Centre from RisePEI, arrived to assist transport the others. Their automobiles and baggage needed to be left behind, although. 

Virginia Clark-Druhan of Dartmouth was one of many passengers rescued.

“We had been having fun with our journey and beginning our trip, trying ahead to touchdown in P.E.I., and we began to odor the smoke,” she mentioned. “And once we stepped exterior, we regarded out. And once we regarded out, there was a bunch of black smoke popping out of the engine room from the highest of the smokestack.”

She mentioned the evacuation went nicely, with assist from many various providers.

Smoke billows from N.S.-P.E.I. ferry

The ferry between Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island is being evacuated Friday morning after smoke was seen billowing from the vessel. Video submitted by Meg Elliott.

“However, I’ve to say, sitting in that life-raft with, like, two ft of water beneath our ft was not preferrred, that is for certain.”

Clark-Druhan mentioned there was “a bit little bit of panic” from some passengers, together with these with youngsters and pets.

“Additionally, the kids themselves had been involved — a lot of noise, alarm bells going and so forth. So, yeah, it was regarding for individuals on board, for certain.”

‘Glad to be on P.E.I.’

She mentioned it was comforting that they had been so near shore when the fireplace broke out.

“We knew that assist was going to return. It was only a matter of being affected person and ready for issues to occur. However, you recognize, I’ve to say I am glad to be on P.E.I., strolling on the purple street.”

Shaun MacLaughlin of Westville, N.S., mentioned he was travelling again to Nova Scotia after a household trip in P.E.I. when he noticed the fireplace from the land.

He was shut sufficient to listen to the bulletins being made on MV Vacation Island as they inflated chutes to evacuate passengers onto life boats, he mentioned.

“As quickly as we pulled as much as the terminal … you could possibly see quite a lot of heavy black smoke from the Vacation Island, which was simply sitting off the dock, and the gents on the sales space mentioned issues weren’t trying good and that we must always flip round,” he mentioned.

MacLaughlin mentioned he and his household are actually planning to drive residence, utilizing the Confederation Bridge on the opposite finish of Prince Edward Island.

Fisherman known as a hero

Some individuals are calling MacDonald a hero for rescuing passengers together with his fishing boat.

“Completely not,” was his reply to that. “Simply doing what you have to do.”

MacDonald mentioned there have been many individuals concerned within the rescue who deserve credit score, together with the captain, deck arms and first responders.

“It was nice to see everyone work so good collectively … Each fireplace division from Vernon River to Souris was there,” he mentioned.

“The principle factor is everyone acquired off secure and sound. Something might be changed. Automobiles, vehicles, boats. So long as individuals do not get injured, that is the principle factor. As quickly because the captain introduced that each one passengers had been off, it was type of a aid.”

Prime Minister provides assurances

In a information launch, P.E.I. Premier Dennis King thanked the rescue crews in addition to health-care employees who had been ready to cope with any accidents.

The ferries are owned by Transport Canada and managed by Northumberland Ferries.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who occurred to be visiting P.E.I. on Friday, mentioned he spoke with King and supplied him assurances. 

“We talked about how we’ll resume this ferry service as shortly as attainable given the significance of those ferries to the vacationer season right here on P.E.I.,” Trudeau mentioned. “Know that we’re on it and our hearts exit to everybody who has been affected.”