Canadian Seafood Processing Plant Destroyed by Fire

Fire leveled a lobster processing plant Thursday afternoon in northeastern New Brunswick, local media reports.

Shortly before 3 p.m. fire broke out at Les Pecheries de Chez Nous, located in the regional municipality of Tracadie. Firefighters found the building fully involved by the time they arrived, authorities said.

The plant was in production at the time of the fire with employees scrambling to escape the flames. Eyewitnesses reported that smoke was visible up to 10 kilometer away.

Val-Comeau Fire Chief Leon Ross told Global News that the food-grade plastics covering the interior walls helped fuel the fire. Explosions thought to be propane tanks were heard.

“Fire was very, very intense,” Ross said. “Main part of the plant is a complete loss.”

With more than 50 responders on the scene, the fire took nearly three hours to bring under control.

The plant contributed 250 jobs to the Acadian Peninsula economy.