Firefighters contain industrial blaze near Hamilton

Firefighters have successfully contained a massive blaze that broke out in an industrial park here early Tuesday.

Emergency officials responded to the fire at Archmill House Inc., a cabinet manufacturing plant at 3 a.m., Hamilton police spokeswoman Sgt. Terri-Lynn Collings said.

As many as 65 firefighters were battling the three-alarm fire in the city’s west-end throughout much of the day.

A crew of about 25 firefighters remained late Tuesday afternoon to extinguish "pockets" of burning under the collapsed portions of the building, said Hamilton fire services spokesman John Verbeek.

A number of wood, glue and plastic products were stored inside the building, but toxic smoke was not believed to be an issue. Representatives from the Ontario Ministry of the Environment were on scene throughout the day to test air quality in the area.

Earlier in the day, officials were requesting that residents in the vicinity keep their windows closed and remain indoors.

"With any fire, the smoke plume is an irritant," said Verbeek.

The cause of the fire is still unknown and no injuries were reported.

The Ontario fire marshal was also on scene but an assessment of damage is not yet available.

"The building will be a total loss," said Verbeek.

Ancaster is located about 80 kilometres southwest of Toronto.