UPDATE: Williams Lake Fire Department responds to fire at Pinnacle Pellet

Members of the Williams Lake Fire Department were at Pinnacle Renewable Energy Plant on South Lakeside Drive for most of the afternoon Wednesday fighting a fire.

Guillermo Angel, corporate engagement officer for the City of Williams Lake, updated the Tribune at 2:45 p.m., noting that there were no injuries reported due to the fire.

The City requested that the public avoid the area while WLFD members were on scene.

As of 1:15 p.m. the WLFD were applying water to the facility, where dust and smoke was visibly coming from the structure.

Fire Chief Erick Peterson confirmed the fire was under control by mid afternoon with fire fighters “chasing hot spots.”

Crews fought the blaze by using their aerial truck to reach in and deliver 1,200 gallons per minute for approximately 70 minutes.

“It is a very necessary tool during industrial fires,” he said of the apparatus.

Peterson noted the fire appeared to start in the dryer.

Please be aware the Williams Lake Fire Department is currently responding to a fire at the Pinnacle Renewable Energy Plant on South Lakeside Drive. Commonly known as "Pinnacle Pellet".

We ask that the public please avoid the area and allow emergency services to do their work. pic.twitter.com/9ajEH9EcDM

— City Williams Lake (@CityWL) May 1, 2019

Williams Lake RCMP were also on scene to block the public entrances to the plant, and also slow traffic travelling past.