Fire hits Purina plant again

WHITBY -- Another fire has erupted at Whitby’s former Purina pet food plant at 280 Hopkins St., just south of Dundas Street.

Two months after firefighters spent all day extinguishing a massive blaze at the building, Whitby Fire Department received a call at about 9 p.m. Wednesday about a small fire in the southeast corner of the building’s interior.

The fire set off only one sprinkler that managed to keep it under control until firefighters arrived on the scene. The building was vacant and no one was injured. Damage has been estimated at $5,000.

There appeared to be forced entry and the fire is believed to have been intentionally set, Chief Fire Prevention Officer Dave Speed said.

The sprinkler system in the building prevented further damage, highlighting the protection that home sprinklers can provide, Mr. Speed said.

“It really shows the effectiveness of sprinkler systems during any kind of fire. If that had been someone’s house, it would have been kept safe.”

The fire that took place at the plant in May spread to the entire building and resulted in $200,000 in damages. Fire officials ruled the cause of that fire as accidental.