Lift equipment is driven away from a fire in an adjacent unit on Industrial Way in Chilliwack on Wednesday, April 14, 2021. (Paul Henderson/ Chilliwack Progress)

Chilliwack firefighters deal with heavy smoke, extreme heat in challenging industrial fire

Crews successful in containing fire to 1 unit in industrial building, adjacent units suffer smoke damage

  • Apr. 15, 2021 12:00 a.m.

Dozens of firefighters were needed to tackle a fire in an industrial building in Chilliwack on Wednesday.

Around 5 p.m. on April 14, more than 35 firefighters from Chilliwack Fire Department Halls 1, 3, 4 and 6 responded to the blaze in the 43000-block of Industrial Way.

When crews arrived, heavy black smoke and flames could be seen coming from one unit of the multi-unit industrial building.

Due to the challenges of extreme heat and zero visibility from the heavy smoke, crews used a defensive attack to bring the fire under control.

An aerial ladder truck was deployed to the roof of the building to extinguish a small fire there and to serve as a vantage point to monitor the fire for extension into adjacent units.

Fire crews were successful in containing the fire to the one unit, although adjacent units suffered smoke damage.

People from one of those adjacent businesses were seen moving several pieces of lifting equipment from inside the building to outside as firefighters extinguished the fire.

Approximately 25 people work in the adjacent units and they are expected to be back at work sometime today (April 15).

This fire is currently under investigation by Chilliwack Fire Department officials.

There were no civilian or firefighter injuries reported.

RELATED: Chilliwack firefighters tackle second large industrial fire in one day

Chilliwack Progress

 

More than 35 firefighters were on scene to battle an industrial fire on Industrial Way in Chilliwack on Wednesday, April 14, 2021. (Paul Henderson/ Chilliwack Progress)

More than 35 firefighters were on scene to battle an industrial fire on Industrial Way in Chilliwack on Wednesday, April 14, 2021. (Paul Henderson/ Chilliwack Progress)