A 41-year-old man faces arson charges following a suspicious vehicle fire that disrupted Hullo ferry operations in Nanaimo on Friday.

Incident at the Ferry Terminal

Around 4 p.m., as passengers gathered at the terminal, the man scaled a fence and dashed down the dock toward a utility van. Nanaimo RCMP spokesperson R/Const. Gary O’Brien stated that the individual broke into the vehicle and assembled a “homemade torch” using items from inside before setting it ablaze.

Officers quickly arrived at the scene, detaining the suspect while firefighters extinguished the flames. The ferry traveling from Vancouver to Nanaimo remained unable to dock for more than an hour as emergency crews evaluated and cleared the area.

No Injuries, Limited Damage

No one sustained injuries, and the fire caused damage only to the utility van, according to O’Brien.

Charges and Court Details

Authorities held the suspect overnight and formally charged him with one count of arson. He received bail under conditions that prohibit him from entering the Hullo terminal or possessing incendiary devices. His next court appearance is set for March 24.

O’Brien described the man as “new to Nanaimo” but did not release his name.