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Fire at Foam Factory
posted (August 27, 2009)

It sounded like fireworks last night when a blaze started in the chemical mixing room at the Belfoam Factory on the Western Highway. But when the smoke cleared, it was apparent that there were no fireworks, just combustible chemicals and a volatile setting. Jacqueline Godwin has more.

Jacqueline Godwin Reporting,
When 7News arrived on the scene after ten on Wednesday night the National Fire Service had already extinguished the blaze. It took fire fighters only thirty minutes to bring the fire under control. Today however the damage could be clearly seen. The cement building owned by Belize Foam and Furniture Limited was used as a factory to manufacture foam. The company’s manager Charles Abou Nehra says it will set them back several weeks.

Charles Abou–Nehra, Owner
“I think it is going to set me back at least the foaming part of the business maybe three to four weeks, the maximum.”

When 7News returned to the scene we found fire fighters combing through the debris to locate the burn pattern and determine what could have started the fire. According to substation officer Ernest Dominguez blocks of foam made that same day had been stored inside the building. According to Abou Nehra these barrels that store the combustible chemicals used to make the foam were empty because they only fill it with the amount needed to make foam for the day. And yesterday’s amount had been used up.

Jacqueline Godwin,
“What was stored in that building?

Charles Abou–Nehra,
“The foam mixer, the foam mold, the box, the blocks of that day that they made and that’s pretty much it.”

Ernest Dominguez, Substation Officer - National Fire Service
“The structure used to manufacture the foam itself, different chemicals and it was also used for a cooling house, after the foam has been made. There are a number of factors that could have contributed to the blaze however we won’t know until we complete the investigation.”

One thing the fire-fighters do know is that there is nothing to indicate the fire started from outside of the building.

Ernest Dominguez,
“From the preliminary investigation, the fire appears to have started inside the building. There is no sign of anything, that the fire had been started from an outside source and then went inside towards the building.”

Jacqueline Godwin,
“And you know this because most of the damage is concentrated inside the building?”

Ernest Dominguez,
“That as well as there is no major burn damages outside the building except for a house that was being lighted as secondary to the main fire.”

Charles Abou Nehra says there are a number of factors that may have caused the fire but stressed that the company does follow international standards when handling chemicals used to make foam.

Jacqueline Godwin,
“What do you believe started this fire?”

Charles Abou–Nehra,
“It could have been a number of different things. One is every now and again you will have the front combusting, maybe from the heat. Two, maybe an electrical fault. It could be anything. I would hate to guess.”

Jacqueline Godwin,
“Have you ruled it out being deliberately set?”

Charles Abou–Nehra,
“Why would anyone want to do that. I won’t think negatively.”

The National Fire Service says absolute care must be taken to minimize hazards that come with such an operation and from all indications so far are that the company took the necessary measures to ensure safety.

Ernest Dominguez,
“To know what kind of chemical you have and if they can react, if they will react with each other. If they will react then you need to keep them safe and also in a cool area.”

Both the building and contents were insured for approximately seventy thousand dollars.

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