Blaze at South Haven, MI, Plastics Plant Contained after 14 Hours
SOUTH HAVEN, MI - A major fire at a South Haven plastics factory has been extinguished.
The blaze began just before 4 p.m. Friday, Sept. 25, at East Jordan Plastics, 1600 Stieve Drive, and gained momentum when dozens of propane tanks began exploding. A large black cloud loomed over the city.
The fire caused a city-wide power outage and local events to be postponed.
Emergency crews from 13 agencies responded to the five-alarm fire that lasted more than 14 hours. It was officially out by 6 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 26, according to Tom Renner, photographer/media relations official with South Haven Area Emergency Services.
A SHAES employee declined to comment on the investigation Saturday morning and said a press release would be sent out later.
The fire started when pallets of plastic stored outside caught on fire, WXMI-TV reported, and the initial explosions threw propane tanks hundreds of feet in the air.
The factory was safely evacuated and no injuries were reported among employees.
A main power line to the nearby city power substation was deactivated as a precaution because it was endangered by the fire, and for the safety of the firefighters.
Flames apparently spread inside the facility.
It was estimated that 2 million gallons of water were used to extinguish the fire, Renner said.
The root cause of the fire is still being investigated.
South Haven Public Schools’ homecoming festivities, including a parade and football game, were originally slated for Friday night.
“Public schools officials postponed the football game due to the lack of power and out of concern for the public’s well-being due to the amount of smoke emanating from the fire scene,” Renner said. “A huge disappointment for South Haven school students as it was their Homecoming — no pre-game Homecoming parade, no halftime band show.”
The game against Constantine has been rescheduled to begin at noon Saturday at Watervliet High School, 450 E. St. Joseph St.
According to a notice from the city, the events were canceled because the fire “presented circumstances beyond our control.”
Power was restored to residents by 10:30 p.m. Friday, Renner said.
The city reported mass power outages until the industrial fire was addressed.
Community members responded with an “outpouring of aid” during the course of the fire, including food, beverages and a porta-potty, Renner said.
A local construction company refueled the fire trucks on scene and the Red Cross canteen was there.
Additional responding fire departments included:
- Bangor
- Columbia
- Covert
- Bloomingdale
- Lawrence
- Sisters Lake
- Keeler
- Fennville
- Saugatuck
- Watervliet
- Lee
- Ganges
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