The Vermilion Parish Farmers Co-Op building burned Friday afternoon, which is located in the middle of Abbeville.

The co-op is where farmers use the silos to dry their rice.

The fire began at around 3:30 p.m. right after the Abbeville High homecoming parade. Black smoke could be seen as far away as Maurice. At 8 p.m. on Friday, firemen from throughout Acadiana were still battling the fire.

The fire, according to Beau Barras of the Abbeville Fire Department, began in the production office of the co-op building. It spread to the back by East Street. The structure that first burned was built in the 1940s.

The front of the co-op building, which is metalic, was the final structure to burn. At 7 p.m. firemen were trying to put out the fire in the green metalic building, which housed the store before it closed a few years ago.

The City of Abbeville cut off electricty to parts of Abbeville, including downtown and residents surrounding the fire, for safety reasons.

As of this time, it is not known how the fire began, Barras said. It was also not known how long the electricty will be shut off.

Barras said the worry, as of 8 p.m., is to make sure none of the cement silos, which has green rice in them, do not get too hot and explode.

No details were available about anyone being hurt in the fire.

Residents who live a football field in front of, behind or on the side of the fire had to be evacuated around 4 p.m.