Damage from ‘extensive’ industrial fire likely exceeding $500K, fire officials say

The aftermath of a Windsor industrial fire on North Service Road. Sanjay Maru has details.

Damage from a large industrial fire in Windsor may exceed half a million dollars, according to fire officials, following a blaze at a concrete facility near the E.C. Row Expressway Tuesday evening.

Windsor fire crews were called around 6 p.m. Tuesday to the 3900-block of North Service Road East, near Central Avenue, for a fire that produced thick smoke visible to drivers on the E.C. Row Expressway.

In an update posted early Wednesday, Windsor Fire & Rescue Services say there was extensive damage to an office, a mixing room, a mixing tower and two cement hauling trucks.

No injuries were reported.

Fire officials say an investigator remains involved as crews work to determine the origin and cause of the fire. In an interview Wednesday morning, a fire official says investigators are focusing on two possible ignition sources.

“Right now, we do have two areas of concern, and one would be electrical. The other would be hot works being performed that day too, which is welding and cutting of steel inside the building. So we’re looking at two possible ignition sources there,” said fire prevention officer John Smith.

Smith says the damage includes concerns about structural integrity, particularly involving the mixing towers, which may require further assessment.

He also says runoff from firefighting efforts raised concerns overnight.

“The only thing is there was the contamination that came off the water after the fire. Chemical stuff like that has been diked and contained on the property, so we’re not worried about anything getting into the ecosystem at this point,” Smith said.

Large plumes of smoke were visible from the E.C. Row Expressway during the response, drawing the attention of passing drivers.

One driver who witnessed the scene from the normally fast-moving roadway says the visibility triggered dangerous behaviour.

“I saw the smoke from a long ways away … and all of a sudden, the car in front of me stopped dead. I had my foot on the brakes, thank God,” said Ellie Mayhew.

But Mayhew says it wasn’t just the vehicle in front of her. Multiple vehicles came to a complete stop.

“Please do not stop on the expressway for anything. I just think it’s very dangerous, and a lot of people could have been hurt. There could have been a really bad accident,” she said.