A massive early-morning fire has caused extensive damage to a lumber mill in Abbotsford.
Abbotsford Fire Rescue Service was called to Absolute Lumber Products, located at 3467 McCallum Rd., near Highway 11, at about 4 a.m. on Saturday.
When crews arrived, the plant was fully engulfed and flames were shooting high in the air. Smoke was so thick over areas of the city that it set off fire alarms at apartment buildings several kilometres away.
Firefighters first had to navigate around power lines to begin extinguishing the fire. It took crews about 45 minutes to bring the fire under control, but by then, heavy damage had occurred.
Firefighters on scene estimated that the building would be a complete loss.
The mill was shut down when the blaze occurred, and no one was injured.
Ramesh Sharma, the mill owner’s brother, says the fire is a huge blow to the business that employs about a dozen people.
The cause of the blaze is under investigation.
According to the website for Absolute Lumber Products, the plant produces more than 75,000 board feet of pallet cutstock in a day. The company was established in 2006.
(with files from CTVBC)
