Home / Disasters and Accidents / Lightning Sparks 700,000L Ethanol Blaze
Lightning Sparks 700,000L Ethanol Blaze
17 Sep
Summary
- A large blaze erupted at a Chatham ethanol plant early Wednesday.
- Approximately 700,000 litres of alcohol were involved in the fire.
- The fire was believed to be caused by a lightning strike.
A large fire erupted at the Greenfield Global ethanol facility in Chatham early Wednesday, involving a storage tank with approximately 700,000 litres of alcohol. Fire crews were dispatched shortly after midnight and encountered a fully engulfed tank at the rear of the property. This significant incident required an extensive response, with about 13 apparatus and 80 to 90 personnel from multiple agencies, including St. Clair Township Fire Service and Nova Fire Response teams.
Greenfield Global stated that lightning struck a corn-based ethanol storage tank, initiating the fire. The company confirmed the blaze was contained to the tank farm, with no apparent damage to other plant sections. All employees and on-site personnel were safely accounted for, and no injuries were reported. While a lightning strike is a suspected cause, official origin and cause remain under investigation, with the Office of the Fire Marshal notified.
Crews worked to manage runoff water and containment following the fire, with the Ministry of Environment expected to attend the scene. The municipality indicated no air-quality issues related to the incident. Cleanup operations were underway, and a section of Bloomfield Road remained closed. Businesses in the vicinity remained open.
