The owners of Willow View Farms have vowed to re-open their store after it was destroyed in a fire Wednesday morning.
Abbotsford firefighters responded to a blaze at the McCallum Road agri-tourism business at 7:12 a.m. Wednesday.
They found the store and cooler building fully engulfed and worked to prevent the flames from spreading to adjacent buildings, before dousing the fire.
On Wednesday afternoon, a Facebook post appeared on the farm’s page, informing their followers of the fire.
“This morning we experienced a devastating fire … Our house is still standing and our family is safe,” the post reads, presumably from Murray and Cheryl Siemens, who own the farm.
“We are beyond grateful for that and are overwhelmed with the outpouring of love and support from our friends, family and this beautiful community we live in.”
The post goes on to assure Willow View customers they will re-open “as soon as it’s safe.”
“We don’t know when that will be or what it will look like, but the show will go on.”
And by Thursday, the farm had already announce its plan for a partial re-opening, telling their Facebook followers they would set up a tent near their orchard and open for u-pick apples Friday. The gingergold, gravenstein and gala apples will be sold for 99 cents a pound. Sales will be cash only.
In all, 10 units totalling 35 firefighters responded to the fire, as well as local police, BC Hydro, Fortis and B.C. Ambulance. No people or animals were hurt.
The cause of the fire remains unknown and under investigation.
