Three Youths Arrested After Fire Destroys Historic Rail Car in Port Alberni
Sarah Desjardins
6/18/20262 min read
Three youths have been arrested in connection with a suspicious fire that destroyed a historic rail car in Port Alberni, B.C., on Tuesday afternoon.
RCMP say surveillance footage showed three suspects entering the rail car shortly before the fire began and climbing out moments later.
The restored vehicle belonged to the Alberni Pacific Railway, a non-profit organization that operates historic train rides through the community.
Volunteers Devastated by Loss
Richard Spencer, the railway’s operations manager, said the destruction has been devastating for the organization’s volunteers.
He said several volunteers watched as firefighters worked to extinguish the blaze, with many becoming emotional as the extent of the damage became clear.
“We had volunteers yesterday watching the fire department put the fire out, and half of our volunteers were just about in tears after what happened,” Spencer said.
The fire department began receiving calls shortly before 3 p.m.
Port Alberni Fire Department Chief Mike Owens said it quickly became apparent that the fire was suspicious.
Nearby Workers Helped Contain Flames
When firefighters arrived, workers from a nearby demolition site were already helping fight the blaze with their own fire hose.
Owens said their efforts helped prevent the fire from spreading.
He believes the rail car is a total loss and described its destruction as a loss not only for the Alberni Pacific Railway, but for the wider community.
The vehicle was a restored Comox Logging Crew Speeder, originally used to transport logging workers to and from camps during the 1930s.
Spencer said the rail car and its restoration were important parts of the railway’s tourist attraction.
Latest in Series of Vandalism Incidents
Spencer believes the fire was deliberately set and fears the railway may be intentionally targeted, though he said he does not know why.
The same rail car previously had its windows smashed. Electrical wires connecting rail cars were also cut last week.
In recent months, Spencer said several railway cars have been targeted by thieves, while the organization’s work truck and volunteers’ vehicles have also been vandalized.
He said it remains unclear whether the incidents are connected, but the repeated damage has left those involved with the railway feeling uneasy.
Summer Train Rides Will Continue
The railway may explore repairing or restoring the damaged rail car in the future.
For now, Spencer said the Alberni Pacific Railway plans to continue operating normally and offering its historic train rides throughout the summer.
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