The front of the building gave way as fire crews battled a large commercial fire in Brampton Monday afternoon at Empack, an aerosol manufacturer.
Alex Consiglio/Toronto Star
Deputy Fire Chief Matt Pegg says without the help of the Greater Toronto Airports Authority, a massive chemical fire in Brampton could have been much worse Monday.
Pegg said Brampton Fire crews responded to reports of a blaze at Empack Spraytech Inc., near Airport Rd. and Hwy. 407, around 1:30 p.m.
But nearly 50 firefighters were forced into a defensive mode, around the building’s exterior, as the blaze engulfed the building, flammable liquids like ethanol and heptane exploding inside.
The GTAA, luckily nearby, said Pegg, responded to help and sprayed the blaze with special foam to contain the fire.
“It’s the first time we’ve used them and we’re lucky they were right next door,” said Pegg, who couldn’t risk sending his firefighters inside.
“It made a huge difference for us,” said Pegg.
Pegg said the chemicals within the building made for a complex fire, heightening the risk of explosions, and the foam ensured the blaze was under control.
Nonetheless, a quarter of the building collapsed as the fire ripped through the large industrial building. It’s still not known what started the blaze.
Raffi Nalbandian, president of Empack Spraytech Inc., said 30 to 50 people were working in the building Monday and all made it out safely. One worker was sent to hospital with burns to his hands, and Nalbandian said he’ll be released Monday night.
Pegg said Peel Regional Police initiated a “large scale” evacuation, clearing all industrial buildings in the immediate area and as far south as Steeles Ave.
Brampton Transit buses were used to shuttle workers to their vehicles.
Pegg warned people to avoid the area due to heavy smoke as four aerial trucks sprayed chemical tanks to keep them cool.
A hazmat team was on scene for most of the day Monday, and fire trucks from Mississauga and Caledon were on-call. The Ministry of the Environment and the Ministry of Labour were also on scene.
Pegg said his crews, down to 30 firefighters by nightfall, will continue battling the smoldering blaze throughout the night.
Pegg has called the Ontario Fire Marshall to determine how the blaze began, but he doesn’t expect an investigation to commence until Tuesday.
“We’re throwing everything we have at this,” Pegg said Monday night. “There’s still a significant amount of flame and fire inside.”
Source: http://www.thestar.com
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