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Large fire in Abbotsford, B.C. extinguished amid flooding and evacuations

Click to play video: 'Huge fire burning in Abbotsford Wednesday as city deals with flooding'
Huge fire burning in Abbotsford Wednesday as city deals with flooding
A fire is burning in Abbotsford, B.C., on Wednesday morning. The blaze is burning at a vehicle holding lot in the area of Sumas Mountain Road and North Parallel Road. This comes as the city is dealing with flooding and evacuations – Nov 17, 2021

A large fire that was burning in Abbotsford, B.C. on Wednesday morning has now been extinguished, local police confirm.

Flames erupted at a vehicle holding lot at Sumas Mountain Road and North Parallel Road, filling the sky with thick black smoke and burning several vehicles.

Residents in the area were initially warned to stay indoors as the smoke could potentially be toxic, but Abbotsford police said shortly after 2 p.m. the fire had been put out.

“This truly was a team effort from all involved to prevent further damage and spread,” the service tweeted.

Click to play video: 'B.C. floods: Fire and water threatens Sumas Prairie in Abbotsford'
B.C. floods: Fire and water threatens Sumas Prairie in Abbotsford
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The structure fire was in the Sumas Prairie, which has been the site of serious flooding.

The City of Abbotsford doubled down on an evacuation order Tuesday night, urging all residents who remain in the Sumas Prairie to leave immediately amid further flooding that’s expected to be “catastrophic.”

An evacuation order was issued earlier Tuesday for the entire portion of the Sumas Prairie to the Chilliwack border in the eastern Fraser Valley after the torrential weekend rain.

But at a late-night news conference, Mayor Henry Braun said about 300 people, including farmers, have refused to leave.

— with files from Amy Judd and Toby Kerr

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