Canadian Coast Guard evacuates crew members from container ship off B.C. coast due to fire

The Canadian Coast Guard and the Joint Rescue Coordination Centre (JRCC) in B.C. have evacuated crew members froma container shipanchored off Victoria after a fire began spreading on board Saturday.

The coast guard saidit received a report around 11 a.m. PTof a fire on two damaged containers on the MVZim Kingston, which had beenbound for Vancouver. The ship, which is about eight kilometres from shore, had 10 burning containers as of 10:50 p.m.

The fire "appears to have been contained," the company that manages the ship said Sunday. DanaosShipping Co., aCyprus-based company, added that afire extinguishing agencyU.S.-based Resolve Marine Grouphas been commissioned to ensure the safe return of the vessel's crew.

Resolve Marine has mobilized two vessels that are expected to be on siteSunday.

OnSaturday, the coast guard said the ship itself was not on fire.

Video obtained by Reuters showed fire cascading down fromthe deck of the ship into the water.

WATCH |Crew members evacuated from cargo ship off B.C. coast after fire:

Crew members evacuated from cargo ship off B.C. coast after fire

3 years ago

Duration 2:38

The Canadian Coast Guard said it received a report Saturday of a fire on two damaged containers aboard the MV Zim Kingston cargo carrier near Victoria. The ship had been bound for Vancouver.

According to a spokespersonfromJRCC, 16crew members were brought to Ogden Point Pier in Victoria. Five others, including the captain, remained on boardat their own behest to fight the fire.

"An emergency zone has been established at Constance Bank within one [nautical] mile of the anchored container ship Zim Kingston," anoticeon the Coast Guard's Navigational Warnings website said Saturday evening."The ship is on fire and expelling toxic gas."It also warned that two fallen containers werefloating nearby.

40 containers lost in rough waters

The ship first ran into trouble Friday, when it lost 40 of its shipping containers in rough waters, 70 kilometres west of the Juan de Fuca Strait, which separates Washington state and Vancouver Island.

The Coast Guard said Zim Kingston is carrying more than 52,000 kilogramsof xanthates,which includes potassium amylxanthate, housed in two of the containers that are on fire aboard the ship.

The compound, which is used in mining, is classified by the U.S. government as"spontaneously combustible." Potassium amylxanthateis also toxic to marine life.

The coast guard saidthere is no risk to people on shore, but the fire is ongoing and an incident command post has been set up to manage the situation.

"The Canadian Coast Guardhasn't received any reports of any injuries," communications adviserMichelle Imbeautold CBC News.

"No injuries were reported," Danaos Shipping said in a statement to Reuters on Sunday.

It is unclear what caused the fire,but a lifeboat from the coast guard's Victoria station is nearthe Zim Kingston to act as a safety vessel.

Victoria Coun.Stephen Andrew tweeted that the fire chief told him the risk to public health from the fire is "extremely low."

"Should the situation deteriorate, the city is prepared to initiate public alert messaging."

Storm forecast to hit

The Canadian Coast Guard said it was working with its U.S. counterpart to track the 40 containers that had fallen overboard, saying they pose a significant risk to mariners. Late Saturday, the containers were about 22 kilometresoff the west coast of Vancouver Island, near Bamfield.

"Mariners are advised to stay clear of the area," the Canadian Coast Guard said, adding that high windsin Sunday's forecast could make it difficult to recoverthe containers.

"This is extremely concerning. The ship and containers arevery close to Victoria, B.C., and a big storm is forecast to hit tonight. We ... are worried this may be yet another environmentaldisaster," said David Boudinot, president of Surfrider Foundation Canada, an environmental organization.