St. Thomas firefighters battle blaze in vacant factory

Firefighters remained at the scene Monday evening of a major fire at a vacant factory building in St. Thomas.

The St. Thomas Fire Department responded to the property, 109-113 Inkerman St., between Edward and Nolan streets, late in the afternoon.

Crews were met with heavy flame and billowing thick, black smoke which could be seen from across the city. 

Bob Dentrey lives nearby and told CBC News he was watching TV when he heard sirens racing through the neighbourhood. He looked out his back window to find the former factory ablaze.

The building is the former home of Hayes-Dana Weatherhead, and is currently listed for sale. The company made automotive parts, and operated at the location from 1942 until 1983, according to Elgin County Archives and Museums.

"There's been the odd business in it once in a while, for a couple months here and there," said Dentrey, adding the building has had ongoing problems with people breaking in.

"[The fire] started in the front area, which would have been, at the time, the office area. With the wind being out of the west, it just took right off across the building. Once it entered the warehouse area, it took off even faster."

Dentrey took out his phone and began streaming video of the situation, amassing hundreds of viewers.

In a social media post, fire department officials asked residents to avoid the area and, if downwind, to close all windows and doors and stay inside.

"There was a friend of mine that was on the north end of St Thomas, and said that there were ashes falling in his backyard," Dentrey said. 

The St. Thomas Fire Department is investigating the cause of the fire, and said there are no reported injuries.