A large fire has broken out at a factory near Tillsonburg that makes barn mats for the livestock industry.
Details were scarce early Monday, but the Tillsonburg fire department confirmed the fire at Legend Rubber Inc., southwest of the Oxford County town along Highway 3, and said more information will be shared when the blaze is brought under control.
Images shared on social media showed thick plumes of black smoke emanating from a fiery orange horizon after sunrise Monday.
Police had not issued any public statement, except to warn drivers that Talbot Line between Elliot Road and Green Line is closed for a structure fire.
According to social media posts in Tillsonburg Facebook groups, witnesses heard sirens ring out before dawn, beginning about 3 a.m., and reported smoke and an “awful” smell.
“Keep your windows closed! Very dark clouds over Tburg (Tillsonburg) when I left for work,” one person wrote in a post.
“Thought a storm was rolling in untiI saw all the fire trucks,” wrote another person.
No one from the company could immediately be reached for comment, but in a social media post a related company at the same address, Legend Fleet Solutions, said the fire was contained to one storage building.
Legend Rubber makes matting for the beef cattle and dairy industry, and is located in an area of Southwestern Ontario that includes a major dairy belt.
According to its website, the agricultural products maker specializes in “rubber cow comfort products” that increase “the comfort and productivity of your cattle while simultaneously reducing the risk of injury to people and animals using rubber matting and other shock-absorbing materials.”