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A thick plume of dark smoke rose over Kingston following a fire that erupted at KIMCO Steel on Thursday morning.
Firefighters from Kingston Fire and Rescue were assisted by first responders from Loyalist Township and South Frontenac, along with excavators, as they tackled the flames on John Counter Boulevard, according to a news release shared by the City of Kingston.
The blaze started around 8:40 a. m. Thursday and is said to have begun in an outdoor pile of materials. A total of seventy-five firefighters responded to the incident, which was brought under control later in the day, as reported by the city.
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No injuries were reported.
“Prior to this morning’s incident, Kingston Fire & Rescue had identified fire safety concerns at the property and issued an inspection order to the property owner outlining the necessary corrective measures,” the news release stated. It added that fire crews will collaborate with the property owner to ensure safety standards are met at the site.
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The City of Kingston mentioned that they cannot provide a damage estimate yet.
The smoke caused several schools within the Limestone District School Board to go into shelter-in-place mode, based on messages sent out to families with students in those schools.
All students and staff are safe, according to the district. They explained that sheltering in place generally involves keeping doors and windows closed while indoor school activities continue normally.
Southeast Public Health (SEPH) stated they are closely coordinating with responding crews regarding the fire in an email statement to .
“You can reduce smoke exposure by staying indoors when possible and closing windows and doors,” it noted.
If anyone is having trouble breathing or experiencing other symptoms from smoke exposure, SEPH urged them to seek emergency medical attention.
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