Fire crews came to the rescue of a priest trying to knock down a fire inside a Metro Vancouver church late Monday night.

The fire sparked at Our Lady of Mercy Parish near 10th Avenue and Kingway in Burnaby, and the priest was still inside when crews arrived.

Smoke could be seen pouring from the building and the fire was quickly upgraded to a second alarm to call in more help.  

The situation was urgent because the minister was inside trying to put out a small fire.

"We got him out no problem," said Asst. Chief Bryan Kirk of Burnaby Fire.

“Adrenaline is always running a little bit higher with someone trapped so it’s good to get everyone out safely and whatnot."

The cause of the fire is still under investigation.