A large barn fire was kept from spreading to nearby homes in Chilliwack on March 24. 

The fire was at a property in the 6600 block of Prest Road, and began around 4 p.m. The first firefighters en route saw the large column of black smoke coming from the area, and were able to put out an immediate call for a second alarm. In total, 43 firefighters from five halls responded to the call. 

The Chilliwack Fire Department confirmed that there were no animals or people injured in the fire, which was in a storage barn on the property. There were multiple vehicles and equipment in the barn, and there was "heavy fire and black smoke" coming out of the barn when crews arrived. 

"Fire crews worked quickly to perform a defensive fire attack to bring the fire under control and prevent the fire from spreading to adjacent homes and structures, while securing a water supply," fire chief Andrew Brown said in a media release the following morning. "Firefighters were able to protect all adjacent structures with no injuries to either the public or firefighters." 

A social media user said that her parents live on the property and that all the animals were safe. 

Benjamin Ham was flying above Chilliwack with JoinAir Flight Training at the time of the fire and shared images of the billowing smoke online. Those images and many others on social media showed an area of the property completely engulfed in flames. 

Brown said that the fire is under investigation by the RCMP and Chilliwack Fire Department at this time, and anyone with information about this 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 .