No injuries have been reported.
When they arrived, they found several tractor trailers on fire at the back of the industrial building.
In an email, Brenntag said it is aware of the fire, is cooperating with investigators and “no Brenntag employees have been injured because of this incident.”
“Brenntag has been in the chemical distribution business for over 70 years and is fully committed to the safety of our neighbours and our employees,” it said.
Given the nature of the chemicals stored at the site, concern immediately shifted to potential health and environmental threats, authorities said.
“This is a factory or business that deals in motor oil and lubricants and transmission oil,” Jessop said. “We’re dealing with basically all kinds of types of oils, fluids, and solvents,” Jessop said.
He added that the incident was also being treated as “as a hazardous materials incident addressing the water runoff and monitoring the air quality.”
He said no injuries have been reported among people in the area and first responders, but residents should shelter in place, keep their windows closed and call 911 if they have any medical or respiratory problems due to the fire smoke.
He said the CN Rail lines that run through the impacted area had been shutdown.
Jessop said the fire is expected to cause major disruption to traffic in the impacted area throughout the day.
Dale Burke, who lives north of the fire, said he saw smoke billowing from the industrial site as he was getting ready for work Friday morning.
Although he couldn’t smell the smoke, he said he “hopes they get it under control quickly because we know people who have lungs issues and breathing issues,” he said.