Times Colonist
People towing a trailer behind their truck were able to unhitch and drive a safe distance when it started to burn north of Courtenay on Thursday night.
They were headed north on the Inland Island Highway near Hamm Road about 6:45 p.m. Thursday when the fire was discovered, said Chris Murray, deputy chief of Oyster River Fire Rescue.
He said the trailer was about six metres long.
“When we arrived on scene the trailer was fully engulfed,” Murray said. Flames shot as much as 4.5 metres into the air, he said.
The trailer had propane tanks attached to it, he said. “We basically just poured most of our water on to start off to cool them down, so we could get the crews in a little bit closer.”
Murray said the trailer is a complete write-off. Two quads and a motorcycle were also destroyed.
He said the owners handled their escape well.
“They did it as safely and as fast as possible,” Murray said. “They took the truck and parked it up on Hamm Road.”
The northbound lanes were shut down for about an hour.
