Fire at New Westminster pier finally extinguished

The fire at New Westminster's historic pier, started over ten days ago, has finally been extinguished, according to city officials and the New Westminster Fire Department.

Fire Chief Tim Armstrong said crews have been working tirelessly to contain the firewhich broke out in thetimber wharf section ofWestminster Pier Park late in the evening ofSept.13.

Crews were able to contain the initial fire, but supporting timber pilingunderneath the deck surface treated with the coal-tar basedpreservative creosote continued to smoulder for days. It was finally extinguished Thursday.

In the statement posted on the city's website, Armstrong thanked his New Westminster Fire Department crews as well as outside agencies and other city departments that supported the intenseoperation.

WATCH | Video ofthefire that destroyed a stretch of the pier:

Massive fire destroys portion of Westminster Pier Park

4 years ago

Duration 1:01

A massive fire tore through Westminster Pier Park in New Westminster, B.C., on Sept. 13, 2020. The city's mayor said the old section of the promenade, cherished by locals and favoured by tourists, was likely completely destroyed.

The city says Front Street, which has been closed to traffic as crews worked on the fire, will re-open early next week. However, it says the Front Street Parkade and portions of Westminster Pier Park will remain closed until further notice.

The cause of the fire is still under investigation.

The major crimes unit with the New Westminster Police Department arrested one man under suspicion of arson on Sept. 15.

Damage from the fire led to the removal of the Wow Westminster installation ahuge piece of public art comprising four shipping containers shaped into a "W" as thetimber structure that supports the piece wascompromised. The art piece has been dismantled and removed from the site as clean-up and remediation take place.

The historic pier ispart of New Westminster's chief waterfront recreational attraction, which opened to much praise in2012. It includedan urban beach where people could playvolleyball, loungein hammocks orwalkthe 600 metre-long boardwalk.