An agricultural fire in Aldergrove burned through an indoor marijuana grow op in a farm building in the , the reported.
The blaze was reported around 10:30 a.m. on Friday (Aug.11) and was extinguished by 1:30 p.m. the department said.
The fire fight was hampered by a lack of hydrants, which required the use of tanker trucks to bring water in.
At the height of the blaze, the northbound lane of the Aldergrove-Bellingham highway was closed to traffic, forcing Canada-bound vehicles to divert.
Traffic along 16 Avenue across the 264 Street intersection was backed up as well.
Eyewitness Mel Kullar said the fire was in an older metal building and sent thick clouds billowing into the air.
鈥淭here was lots of smoke,鈥� said Kullar, who works in a nursery down the road from the fire site.
Kullar said after the fire was out, what appeared to be signs of a sizable grow op could be seen, including fans, grow lights and air-conditioning equipment.
Police said it appeared the grow op was a legal, licensed facility.
There were no injuries.
