British Columbia

Large fire at plywood storage facility in Chilliwack contained

Fire crews are battling a fire at a Windsor Plywood storage facility in Chilliwack.

No injuries from the fire were reported

The fire broke out at Windsor Plywood on Vedder Road at around 2:30 p.m. Friday. (Shane MacKichan)

Fire crews have contained a large fire at a Windsor Plywood storage facility in Chilliwack.

The fire was reported at around 2:30 p.m. on Friday on Vedder Road near Alder Avenue, city spokeswoman Jamie Leggatt said. 

She said the cause is unknown but appears to have been an accident. Eight fire trucks with about 40 firefighters responded to the fire, she said. 

Vedder Road was closed as firefighters doused flames. A rail line behind the building is also closed, Leggatt said.

A new apartment building is going up right beside the plywood store. Protecting that building is a priority for fire crews, Leggatt said.

A fire at a plywood storage facility in Chilliwack Friday afternoon generated a lot of smoke as firefighters worked to bring it under control. (Shane McKichan)

No nearby residents have been asked to evacuate and no injuries were reported. 

Anika Nicoletti, who works at a nearby pizza shop, first noticed the flames at around 3 p.m.

"It was just super smoky, there were flames," she said. "It was pretty big."

BC Hydro reported power outages in the area, affecting about 4,000 people. Power has since been restored.