Police investigate Pwllheli marina fire

Jan 8 2009 by Dion Jones, Caernarfon and Denbigh Herald

POLICE want to speak to the driver of a dark coloured 4X4 which was parked at a seaside marina around the same time that flames ripped through a boat yard.

The blaze damaged a building “completely destroying” three vessels in the process.

An investigation has now been launched to find the cause of the fire which resulted in thousands of pounds worth of damage.

Around 33 firefighters were called to battle a blaze which broke out at the boatyard of Blue Water Marine Limited based at Pwllheli’s Glanydon Industrial Estate.

The alarm was raised just after 10pm on Sunday night and crews spent almost three hours fighting the fire which later spread to another three smaller boats in the yard, damaging them in the process.

Officers said that the dark coloured 4X4 was parked at the marina between 9pm and 10pm on the same evening.

Community Sergeant Dewi Jones, who was at the scene at the time of the fire, described the blaze as both “fierce” and “severe.”

“As well as the three boats, the exterior of the building definitely suffered damage,” he said.

“Officers were posted at the site during the blaze and remained there during the early hours and most of the day on Monday.

“The area was cordoned off after the fire.

“We have launched a joint investigation and are still in the process of finding out what started the fire.

“The boats will be taken away for forensic examination and we are also in the process of carrying out enquiries locally.

“It is too early to comment any further on the fire at this stage.”

On Monday, yard owner Ian Harrison cut short a holiday in Spain to fly back home and inspect the damage.

Speaking yesterday, he said: “At the moment, we’re keeping an open mind as to the cause of the fire.

“We’ve been lucky in some ways because although the fire has damaged the building’s fascias, it hasn’t been extensive.

“There is smoke damage to the inside of the building but it hasn’t stopped us operating which is good news in that respect.

“The main way that it has restricted us is with regards to our workshop.

“We had heaters on inside the boats to stop them frosting up during the cold weather so they may have started the fire, but at the moment we just don’t know.

“What annoys me is that people who don’t know what’s going on and what caused the fire are making up stories.

“We’ve already had a call from our supplier in the States who phoned to tell us that they heard that Blue Water Marine has burnt down to the ground but we’re still trading as normal.”

A spokeswoman for the North Wales said: “Firefighters from Pwllheli, Nefyn and Abersoch along with specialist appliances from Caernarfon and Bangor were called to the marina at 10.07pm on Sunday, January 4.

“The crews arrived to find three motor cruisers well alight within the outdoor show area with fire spreading to the main building. Crews used four main jets to extinguish the fire.

“The cause of the fire is under investigation, and the investigation will be concluded later in the week as the boats will have to be moved from their current location to conduct a safe and thorough investigation.”

Anyone with any information about the incident is urged to contact Pwllheli police station on (0845) 6071001(Welsh) or (0845) 6071002 (English).

dion.jones