Submitted. At 11:34am Abbotsford Fire Rescue Service responded to a report of a barn fire at McDermott and South Parallel Road.
On arrival, fire crews reported that there was heavy smoke coming from a large
workshop structure that was adjacent to a farm house. AFRS crews were able to get the
fire under control fairly quickly, despite being hampered by strong winds and a lack of
access to the structure.
There was significant damage to a portion of the structure and some damage to the
vehicles that were stored inside. Unfortunately, several roosters in a pen inside the
workshop perished. The total damage to the structure and contents are in excess of
$150,000.
Fire investigators have determined that the fire was accidental in nature.
A rodenticide had been applied to a rat burrow on the outside of the workshop. This
product inadvertently ignited straw and grass inside the burrow and the fire spread to
the structure.
Six AFRS fire trucks and 20 firefighters attended the scene. APD, BC Ambulance and
BC Hydro were also in attendance.