An investigation is underway into a massive, multi-point fire on Provincial Road just south of Concession 6.
Crews were called to the 16-hundred block of Provincial shortly before noon and arrived to find flames at several locations.
The largest scene was at the rear of the Auto Recyclers at 1637 Provincial Road, which was fully engulfed and has now suffered a partial roof collapse.
Fortunately all the employees got out safely.
At least one vehicle caught fire further south on Provincial, where the parking lot backs onto train tracks.
A pall of thick, dark smoke could be seen for miles.
Firefighters have most of the Flames knocked down from massive fire on Provincisl Road. #CKLW pic.twitter.com/Y2JYIlxVGG
— Peter Langille (@PLangille800) March 9, 2017
Bill Kresan of JMK Fire Protection was passing near the area and drove to the scene to see if he could help: "it got darker and darker as it burnt into the building, they said there's a lot of tires in the building and as the fire grew back into the building just got darker and darker then it went down behind along the train tracks and caught something back over the other side on fire"
Chantal Bomberry is the secretary at the auto recyclers and was told to leave the building by her boss: "I did have to go back in to get my stuff, my purse and that sort of thing because I didn't have the keys to my car but literally I had no idea and once it started in the back right corner it totally went to the left corner fast and started heading up, it was really quick"
WFRS Spokesperson Andrea DeJong at Provincial Road fire (photo by AM800's Peter Langille)
Windsor Fire spokesperson Andrea DeJong says they're just starting their investigation, but suggestions of a train being the cause are plausible: "when they first arrived, they were reporting lots of flames and smoke directly behind the auto wreckers building at the rear then the smoke, and multiple fires behind the others they could see as soon as they got around the back"
Damage is still being assessed, but if it tops $500,000 the Ontario Fire Marshall will be called in to investigate.
Firefighters have most of the Flames knocked down from massive fire on Provincisl Road. #CKLW pic.twitter.com/Y2JYIlxVGG
— Peter Langille (@PLangille800) March 9, 2017
DeJong says if the fire had happened yesterday with the strong wind it could have spread much further and done a lot more damage.