A fire on Monday at a popular Abbotsford attraction is being investigated as suspicious.
Investigators with Abbotsford Police Department's (APD) major crime unit and Abbotsford Fire Rescue Service (AFRS) are still working to determine the cause of the blaze at Maan Farms, located at the corner of Vye and McKenzie roads.
AFRS crews were called to the scene just before 1 a.m. on Monday.
When they arrived, the main barn on the property was engulfed in heavy flames. At the peak of the blaze, flames were shooting about 60 feet into the sky.
It took crews several hours to get the blaze under control.
The barn housed the farm’s offices, winery, "country kitchen" and main store, where items such as fresh produce, home-style jams and ice cream were sold.
The main damage to the barn was to the top floor of the building, while the first floor suffered smoke and water damage.
The barn is located adjacent to a petting zoo, but no animals were injured in the fire.
Maan Farms, owned by Kris and Devinder Maan since 1982, draws people year-round, offering u-pick services and farm tours in the summer. In the fall, it has a pumpkin patch, a haunted maze and a “scarecrow row.”
The Maan family could not be reached for comment, but a post on the Maan Farms website (maanfarms.com) indicates that the facility will re-open Wednesday for its u-pick operations, and fresh berries will be available for purchase.
“For years we have been committed to providing our customers with delicious berries and a wonderful experience for the entire family, and this setback does not change that,” the statement says.
Sixty firefighters and 16 trucks responded to the scene. One firefighter was transported to Abbotsford Regional Hospital for possible heat-related illness and was later released.
Anyone with information about the fire is asked to call the APD at 604-859-5225, text 222973 (abbypd) or call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.