OKA – Provincial police are investigating a suspicious fire at a yacht club at Point-aux-Anglais in Oka. According to Sgt. Claude Denis of the SQ, emergency dispatchers received a call around 12:30 a.m. Saturday that a hanger with three or four yachts inside was on fire. Neighbours of the club say the fire lasted around three hours before firefighters put it out.
Police took over the investigation of the fire when firefighters suspected foul play.
“Inside the warehouse there were a few boats, probably three or four, and they were completely destroyed,” Denis said.
Damages amounted to “several hundred thousand dollars – probably close to $1 million,” Denis added.
Police won’t disclose what made them suspect possible arson in the Oka Marina fire. According to neighbours who live nearby, the club had fallen into some kind of financial difficulties in recent days, and many people who owned boats stored in similar warehouses could be seen coming to and from the club at a time when there was usually not much activity.
The Oka Marina was closed Saturday and management did not return comment requests.
In season, the marina has slips to accommodate about 140 boats, according to its website. Some of those boats are stored inside white tent-like hangars in the winter, similar to the one that went up in flames.
No one was hurt in the fire.
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