By Jim Bloch
The fire is out. At least for the time being.
“We have cleared the scene at US Farathane,” announced the Port Huron Fire Department on its Facebook page Thursday, July 11 at 4 p.m.
The fire at the US Farathane warehouse in the city’s industrial park broke out late morning on Sunday, July 7.
“We believe this is probably the largest fire in the city’s history,” said City Manager James Freed at the city council’s regular meeting Monday night.
Re-ignition remains a threat.
“(F)urther response will follow for multiple days for hot spots that may arise,” said the department. “This is very common in large commercial fires with the type of product and material that was stored in this facility.”
The company manufactures plastic components for the auto industry.
“Security is present at the property for monitoring,” said the department. “We ask that you please continue to avoid the area. The scene is still active and under investigation.”
Six departments – Port Huron Township, Marysville, Fort Gratiot, St. Clair, Kimball, and Marine City – joined PHFD to fight the fire and a number of agencies provided other kinds of assistance.
“Sarnia Fire Rescue of Ontario crossed the border to cover the city of Port Huron’s additional emergency calls from Station No. 1 during Day 1 of this incident,” the department said. “The past few days have shown how this community and its neighbors have such strong support for each other.”
Tri-Hospital EMS “provided continuous vital checks to all personnel on scene while also delivering food and drinks to staff.” St. Clair County Central Dispatch contacted all agencies that offered mutual aid during the fire. Port Huron Police Department provided traffic control, security of the property, assisted with aerial pictures and video from their Drone Team. Be Ready St. Clair County provided tents, generators, fans, and coolers. Blue Water Area Transit provided a bus that was used as a cooling center; Tri-Hospital EMS used the cooling center for medical checks of the firefighters.
“Foster Blue Water Oil provided fuel for our apparatus with the assistance of Port Huron DPW and Waste Water staff on scene,” said the department. “This allowed our apparatus to stay in position and operating, avoiding interruption to suppression efforts.”
Mayor Pauline Repp expressed her gratitude to the first responders and the community.
“The city of Port Huron had a tough weekend this weekend, starting with the water main break” and ending with the fire, said Repp, as heard on the recording of the July 8 council meeting. The city distributed five semi-truck loads of bottled water provided by Kroger and Sam’s Club during the two-day boil water alert that followed the repair of the main. Repp thanked the fire department and other agencies that fought the blaze and worked to keep the first responders safe. “They went above and beyond the call of duty this weekend.”
Jim Bloch is a freelance writer based in St. Clair, Michigan. Contact him at bloch.jim@gmail.com.
