Fire at Napanee Goodyear plant draws response from multiple fire services

A fire at a Napanee manufacturing facility located on its namesake road saw fire services from three different municipalities respond, with four fire stations sending firefighters to the scene.

The incident began just before 3:40 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 3, 2023, at which time the Greater Napanee Fire Services were “alerted to a fire in the mixing plant at Goodyear,” said Fire Chief Bill Hammond.

The Fire Department was also informed that Goodyear’s emergency response team was “actively fighting this fire at the time of [the] call,” the fire chief said in response to Kingstonist inquiries.

According to Napanee Fire, units from all three Napanee stations responded to the Goodyear facility on Goodyear Road, as did a crew from the Stone Mills Township Fire Department. At the same time, “a request through the mutual aid coordinator allowed for a third department to respond from Loyalist Township as water supply standby,” Hammond relayed on Monday, Nov. 6, 2023.

The fire chief said that, upon arrival, firefighters found smoke which “could be seen from the upper floors of the southeast part of the plant.” That area of the plant is the mixing area, Hammond explained. Local residents reported smelling a strong smoke smell in the area.

After firefighters were able to establish communications with the plant emergency response team, the crews were “guided into the structure” to the location of the fire – where 400 pounds of rubber was on fire.

That fire was contained to the unit where it originated, Hammond said, noting that the Goodyear team “controlled the fire before we arrived.”

“The quick response by this team contained and extinguished the fire and prevented spread and damage,” he expressed.

“They are to be commended.”

In total, 46 firefighters with 14 fire truck apparatus responded to the incident from three departments. Those crews “systematically vented and checked for extension beyond the area of origin,” Napanee Fire Services said.

“Crews were cleared in two hours of arrival with no significant damage to the plant. No injuries were reported and no hazard to the public existed,” said Hammond.

The cause of the fire was left to the Goodyear plant staff to determine “through their investigation process,” according to the fire chief.

Kingstonist reached out to Goodyear for further information on the fire and what caused it. According to the company, the investigation into the cause of the fire remains ongoing at this time.

“On Friday, November 3, 2023, a small fire occurred at the Goodyear Napanee plant. The Goodyear team quickly contained the fire and the local fire department was called to support as a precautionary measure,” Goodyear Canada said in a statement.

“There were no injuries and production has resumed in the facility.”