Abandoned Wallaceburg factory goes up in flames

A fire at an abandoned factory in Wallaceburg caused $500,000 damage Friday night.

Firefighters and emergency personnel responded to the call around 7:10 p.m. at the former H&B hockey stick factory on Arnold Street.

There were no injuries reported, Chatham-Kent police said. Fire crews from Wallaceburg and Chatham responded. “The fire was contained to the building of origin,” said fire officials, adding that a nearby house and an industrial property to the south were at risk at one point.

The property saved is estimated at $100,000.

The investigation is continuing. Anyone with information is asked to call police at 519-436-6600, ext. 284.

Hillerich and Bradsby shut down the factory in 2008. The former factory also had a large fire on St. Patrick’s Day 2014.

Chatham-Kent Mayor Randy Hope told the Courier Press in 2014 that the burnt-out factory was an “eyesore” and should be torn down, if there was no shortterm development planned for the building.

Back in 2014, Hope said if the building remains an eyesore, Chatham-Kent’s property standards department should enforce some of its municipal rules and bylaws.

“It’s important to make sure that our gateways are attractive,” said Hope.

“The last thing that you want to do as a visitor coming into our community is seeing a gateway to the community that looks like it has been through a war.

“It’s really important that we make sure that we spruce up our gateways so when a person comes into town they have a better impression.”