UPDATE: Fire at drug lab near elementary school in Chilliwack Sunday

An early morning structure fire Sunday (Jan. 3) at a Yale Road property in Chilliwack led to the dismantling of a clandestine drug lab on the property across the street from Cheam elementary.

The Chilliwack Fire Department reported that crews were dispatched to assist in resetting a carbon monoxide alarm in the home of a property in the 48000-block of Yale Road at around 1 a.m. on Sunday.

“Upon arrival, the initial responding firefighters encountered flames and smoke showing from a single family residential structure and quickly upgraded the incident to a working structure fire,” according to a fire department press release issued before 3 p.m. on Sunday.

RCMP CLEAR team and #Chilliwack Fire Department still on the scene this morning of alleged clandestine drug lab on Yale Road near Cheam elementary school. pic.twitter.com/f3aGRdOQXF

— Paul J. Henderson (@PeeJayAitch) January 4, 2021

Firefighters from multiple halls responded and set up a defensive attack to bring the fire under control. The structure suffered significant fire and smoke damage.

Chilliwack RCMP said the home was the location of a suspected clandestine drug laboratory. A heavy police presence was noted by residents all day, with Yale Road blocked in both directions near Banford Road, just east of Little Mountain.

A fire at this house on Yale Road near Banford Road in Chilliwack, seen here on Tuesday, Jan. 5, 2021, resulted in the dismantling of a clandestine drug lab located on the property. (Jenna Hauck/ Chilliwack Progress)

“The Federal RCMP Clandestine Laboratory Enforcement and Response (CLEAR) team has been called in as the specialized police unit responsible for dismantling clandestine drug laboratories and processing the hazardous materials often found within,” the RCMP said in a press release issued Sunday at 9 p.m.

The 48000-block of Yale Road (between Banford and Prest) remained closed to all vehicle traffic Monday but was back open to traffic on Tuesday.

One RCMP vehicle was on the scene Tuesday at the home, which was surrounded by police tape. Serious fire damage could be seen at more than one locaiton in the house.

The Chilliwack Fire Department says that anyone with information about the fire is asked to call the RCMP at 604-792-4611 or anonymously through Crimestoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477) or www.upperfraservalleycrimestoppers.ca.