Chilliwack firefighters were expecting the worse Wednesday evening after a call came in for a fully involved barn fire in Rosedale.
With one silage facility on fire, and several other structures attached, fire crews from halls 1, 2, 4 and 6 were called in.
Adding to the challenge was the lack of fire hydrants near the rural property, meaning water necessary to battle the blaze had to be trucked in by tender.
Water trucks being brought in by #Chilliwack firefighters to help battle Rosedale barn fire. pic.twitter.com/WdDRfmHb8t
— Greg Knill (@Chillout2Day) September 27, 2018
A large plume of smoke was rising from the property, located on Willbourn Road near Camp River Road, as firefighters began arriving just after 5 p.m. Flames were also venting from the silage barn.
Before they arrived, however, the home owners, nieghbours and workers had sprung into action.
One of the first on scene was Chilliwack city councillor Chris Kloot, who was cycling nearby on the dike. “With some quick action we got an irrigation reel hooked up before the fire dept got there,” Kloot said later in a Tweet.
“Could have been so much worse…..amazing to see the farming community show up in a massive force to help out. Every farmer’s worst nightmare.”
I was one of the first on scene and with some quick action we got an irrigation reel hooked up before the fire dept got there. Could have been so much worse.....amazing to see the farming community show up in a massive force to help out. Every farmers worst nightmare. https://t.co/MefDD0S4lx
— Chris Kloot (@ChrisKloot) September 27, 2018
When fire crews arrived they quickly got control of the fire and were able to prevent it from spreading to any additional structures.
No one was injured in the fire, and no animals were harmed.