Stanley Park arson attack destroys miniature train's station

A fire that destroyed the old station building at the miniature train in Vancouver's Stanley Park early Friday morning was deliberately set, investigators say.

Peoplefirst reported the fire just after midnight, but the building was destroyed by the time firefighters managed to put it out.

Battalion Chief Philip Trenter said it was a tough fire to fight, but fortunately firefighters managed to stop it spreading to the trees in the rest of the park.

"Our crews did a great job here. It's a very narrow lane here, it's a long way to drag the hose. So I think knocking the flames down around the trees stopped the park from catching on fire,"

Two firefighters suffered minor injuries and were taken to St. Paul's Hospital for treatment and have since been released.

Captain Gabe Roder says investigators have since deterimined the fire is suspicious in nature and that itwas deliberately set, and it was fortunate the surrounding forest was still damp from recent rains.

"There were a few trees that were singed. We're very, very fortunate with the timing of the year, that it's still very, very moist. We're actually quite pleased we had a rainy season because had this been in the middle of the summer, it might have been a different outcome," said Roder.

The train ride at the Klahowya Villagehad just opened for the season on Thursday and it is not yet clear how the operations will be affected.

The station is located next to the old petting zoo. The miniature train is also usedfor theHalloween Ghost Train and thefirefighters' Christmas train.