Paper Products Plant in Taiwan Swept by Flames

A family of three escaped with their lives Thursday morning when fire broke out at a paper products factory in north central Taiwan.

First noticed at 2:17 a.m., the fire at the multi-span metal building in Taichung spread so quickly that the family sleeping on the second floor did not have time to save the family pet, local media report. Flames scorched nearly 200 square meters of factory space, fueled by stacks of cartons and paper packaging.

The layout of the building made it difficult for firefighters to reach smoldering pockets of fire that burned until 5 a.m. Flames also spread into a neighboring car repair shop.

Cause of the fire remains under investigation.