No one was hurt in a large fire that broke out overnight at an auto parts plant in Tillsonburg, which resulted in around $10 million in damages and impacted at least 80 jobs, a fire official reported on Wednesday.
Marwood International Inc., a Tier 1 original equipment manufacturer for automotive structural components and a modular assembly supplier, has six production sites in the area, including four located in Tillsonburg, one in Woodstock, and another in Ingersoll, according to their website.
A late-night fire engulfed part of Marwood’s Plant 3 at 101 Townline Rd. around 8:30 p. m. Tuesday, destroying equipment and a production area measuring about 930 square metres (10,000 square feet), as stated by Tillsonburg fire prevention officer Geoff Hayman to The Free Press.
Firefighters were dispatched to the plant around 8:35 p. m. and encountered heavy smoke along with visible flames, Hayman mentioned.
Approximately 45 firefighters from Tillsonburg, Norfolk County’s Courtland station, and Ingersoll fought the blaze for nearly five hours using two aerial trucks and three pumpers while working defensively after part of the roof collapsed.
The fire was brought under control by Wednesday at 1:30 a. m., with the last truck leaving the scene by 7:45 a. m., he added.
Initial evaluations suggest that damages are estimated to be about $10 million; this includes structural damage as well as costs associated with replacing specialized equipment, according to Hayman.
“The concern obviously is whether or not it is an arson or an accidental fire,” Hayman stated.
He noted there was an “indication of equipment malfunction” close to finished products stored in cardboard containers that “created a fire right next to some product that was ready for shipping.”
Workers at the facility tried to put out the flames using fire extinguishers but were unsuccessful. They then called for help from the fire department. By the time firefighters arrived, the blaze had spread quickly due to nearby materials making it unsafe for them to enter. As such, they tackled it from outside to control it and contain it within the central section.
The plant covers about 9,290 square metres overall. About 80 workers across two shifts will face job impacts as the company attempts to get production back on track.
“The building would be upward of 30 feet (nine metres) in height with a steel structure that is not easy to access, especially when the fire is within the center of the building,” he said. “The building had a working sprinkler system that was able to control portions of the fire but not all parts.”
Oxford OPP Const. Matthew Foster confirmed that police are not investigating this incident.
Tillsonburg Mayor Deb Gilvesy commended emergency crews for preventing injuries and managing the situation effectively.
“To Marwood and the Marwood family, the town certainly sympathizes with what happened last evening,” she told The Free Press. “The town is very grateful that there were no injuries to any firefighters or employees at the manufacturing facility; safety is always our top priority.”
Marwood International did not respond when asked for comments.
“Now, the company is working diligently to try reestablishing production and minimizing any fallout from this incident. However, it will take some time before repairs can be made,” Hayman remarked.
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@Bea Baleeiro
