Dragon Boat Society canoes destroyed in 'suspicious' early morning fire

An early morning fire at a boat storage facilityin Vancouver's False Creek has destroyed about 11outrigger canoes owned by the Dragon Boat Society that were being stored there.

The Vancouver Park Board says the cause of the fire is still under investigation, but it is being treated as suspicious.

Anita Webster, spokeswoman for the Canadian International Dragon Boat Festival Society, says they learned around 4:30 a.m. PT Sunday of a fire at the society's equipment trailer on south False Creek.

"These were one-person outrigger canoes that we were just beginning to get into renting and leasing," she said. "This is the biggest loss for us. These were new boats. Theyre hard to get and it was a fun new era we were getting into."

Webster says thesmaller boats were lostalong with life-jackets, paddles and other equipment, but the dragon boats themselves were not harmed.

"Its difficult for the society," she said."Weve had a lot of trouble with that area, with that trailer. Its suffered many break-ins over the years."

However, Webster says that will soon change.

"What were looking forward to immensely is our new permanent boathouse on False Creek and were hoping that is going to be ready for June," she said."Were really looking forward to having proper facilities on the water."

Webster says the outriggers are worth about $2,000 each.