Chatham-Kent firefighters on scene of a large fire near Bloomfield Road and Richmond Street in Chatham on Thursday, November 16, 2023. (Photo courtesy of Chatham-Kent Fire via Facebook)
Chatham

Greenhouses well protected by firefighters during rail tie blaze in Chatham

The damage is estimated at $20,000 after a railroad tie fire in Chatham.

Chatham-Kent fire officials said they were called to the scene on Bloomfield Road in Chatham at 7:10 p.m. Thursday for a "brush fire" along the railroad tracks behind Truly Green Farms.

When firefighters arrived, they saw a large pile of railroad ties on fire.

Fire crews from five different stations (three from Chatham and one each from Harwich North and Raleigh North) were all called in to help fight the blaze and crews stayed at the scene for several hours to put out the "stubborn fire."

No injuries were reported and the firefighters who were called to the scene are getting a special thank-you from a local business owner for the way they handled the situation.

Greg Devries, who owns Truly Green Farms on Bloomfield Road, told CK News Today that the fire was directly across from their facility with the smoke and the flames blowing directly toward their buildings.

"From the Truly Green family, we are very thankful for the effort that was put forth from the Chatham-Kent fire department and the surrounding volunteer fire halls," said Devries. "Our workers were well protected and our property is still intact."

The cause of the fire is listed as "undetermined."

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