Firefighters in Kingston, Ont., say they have contained a large fire at a local industrial facility that sent smoke billowing into the air, prompting some schools to shelter in place. According to the City of Kingston, firefighters were called to Kimco Steel on John Counter Boulevard at 8:40 a.m. on reports of a structure fire. Firefighters from other jurisdictions, including South Frontenac and Loyalist Township, were called in to help with firefighting operations, and the Ministry of the Environment has been contacted, the city said. No one has been reported hurt. In a statement late Thursday afternoon, Kingston Fire and Rescue said the fire originated in an outdoor pile of materials and that one fire truck remained on scene to monitor conditions and deal with any hot spots. Concerns raised prior to fire Kingston Fire and Rescue said there had been public concern about “repeated fires” at the location. “Prior to this morning’s incident, Kingston Fire and Rescue had identified fire safety concerns at the property and issued an inspection order to the property owner outlining the necessary corrective measures,” the fire department said. “Kingston Fire and Rescue continues to work with the property owner to address outstanding concerns and achieve compliance with applicable fire safety requirements.” Kimco Steel is a new steel, scrap metal and recycling centre in Kingston’s Industrial Park, located about one kilometre south of Highway 401. Nearby schools sheltered in place The Limestone District School Board put some schools into shelter-in-place mode on Thursday because of concerns about air quality. “Following consultation with Kingston Fire and Rescue, several Limestone schools in Kingston have been placed in Shelter-in-Place due to smoke from a local fire. All students and staff are safe,” the school board said in a letter to families. “During a Shelter-in-Place, students and staff remain indoors with doors and windows closed, while school operations continue as normal inside the building.”
