The Independent

Firefighters from Lambton County were among the first responders called to an early morning blaze at Chatham’s Ethanol Plant.

Chatham-Kent firefighters were called to the Greenfield Global facility around midnight for a fire. By 3 am, firefighters from St. Clair Township, Borouge International – formerly NOVA – and Shell were on the scene to help with about 15 firefighters, the fire chief, deputy chiefs and specialized firefighting foam required for the incident as well as two tower trucks from St. Clair.

St. Clair fire used its specialized drone to provide aerial support according to Fire Chief Richard Boyes.

“Using the drone launched from Command 1, crews monitored tank temperatures in real time providing critical information to guide suppression efforts and ensure firefighter safety,” he said in a news release.

The fire was extinguished just before 8:00 a.m. There have been no reported injuries. There was a total of 95 personal on scene including firefighters and public works employees.

Officials said the fire may have followed a lightning strike; however, the cause remains under investigation.

“Our firefighters are trained and equipped to respond whenever and wherever they are needed,” said Boyes in a news release.. “When neighbouring communities call for assistance, we are proud to lend our expertise, personnel and specialized tactical resources to support a safe and effective emergency response.”