An early morning fire at Hilltop Greenhouses on Monday saw Saanich firefighters battle a blaze that started in a boiler filled with hog fuel.
At 5 a.m., the Saanich Fire Department responded to an outbuilding at the Burnside Road West property, according to assistant deputy chief Brock Henson. He noted the calls described thick, black smoke billowing into the sky.
“Upon arrival, there was a fire on the exterior of the greenhouse,” Henson said Monday. “Crews were able to quickly knock the fire down and crews are still on scene as the fire started in a boiler that uses hog fuel and the fire had chased from the boiler up into the hopper.”
Henson said two engines, one tanker, a rescue vehicle and a battalion unit were dispatched. No one was injured in the fire.
As of 9:30 a.m. Monday, firefighters were still on scene monitoring the boiler and investigating the blaze.
“It was contained very quickly, but hog fuel fires can be very stubborn, so we stay on scene for quite some time to keep on wetting them down,” said Henson.
Fire crews also responded to a nearby shed fire around 8:30 a.m. at Marigold Road and Burnside Road West. That blaze is also under investigation, but Henson said they don’t believe it’s related to the Hilltop Greenhouses fire.