Fire crews battle overnight blazes in Pitt Meadows, Abbotsford

Fire crews inPittMeadows andAbbotsfordwere kept busy fighting fires overnight.

The first was alarge fire that destroyed a barn ona dairy farm inPIttMeadows.

The blaze sent a thick cloud of smoke into the air when the fire broke out just after midnight Fridayat a farm in the 20100-block ofDewdneyTrunk Road.

Bright orange flamescould be seen as far as thePittRiver Bridge.

Ridge MeadowsRCMPsaid no one was hurt and the owners managed to get most of the cattle at the farm out of the barn.

They could not confirm if all the cattle made it out safely.

Shop fire in Abbotsford

InAbbotsford, fire crews were called to a large building fire in the 27000-block of Townshipline Road around 2a.m. PT.

The building, believed to be a shop that housed cars and automotive parts, was entirely engulfed in flames when crews arrived.

Crews had trouble getting hoses to the fire, as a large locked gate was blocking the only entrance to the property. The freezing temperatures also presented a challenge,said assistant fire chief Craig Bird.

"Definitely below zero conditions right now and cold temperatures makes fire fighting with water a little more difficult," he said.

"We do have collapse potential in this building so that this point in time, it's a defensive fire," he added.

Both blazes are currently under investigation.

With files from Gian-Paolo Mendoza