A major fire broke out at Greenfield Global’s ethanol plant in Chatham, Ontario, early Wednesday, September 16, 2026, prompting a large emergency response and closing part of Bloomfield Road on the city’s west side.
Large flames and smoke were visible from outside the industrial property at 275 Bloomfield Road as Chatham-Kent firefighters worked to control the blaze. Despite the scale of the fire, authorities said no injuries had been reported.
Chatham-Kent police later said the fire was contained and there was no imminent danger to residents in the immediate area. Emergency crews remained at the facility while firefighting and safety operations continued.
Image credit: Chatham Daily News
Large flames visible during early-morning fire
The emergency developed overnight, with flames rising several metres above parts of the facility. Images from the scene showed firefighters using elevated equipment to direct water onto the burning area.
A photograph taken by someone working nearby showed the blaze at about 12:30 a.m., indicating the response was already underway well before sunrise. Several Chatham-Kent fire stations were reportedly involved in tackling the fire.
Smoke and flames could be seen from a considerable distance, but no injuries were reported among workers, emergency personnel or members of the public.
Bloomfield Road closed near the ethanol plant
Police closed Bloomfield Road between Richmond Street and Riverview Drive while crews worked at the facility. Residents and motorists were asked to avoid the area and follow road closures and directions from emergency personnel.
The restriction was particularly important because firefighters needed clear access to the industrial site. Other Canadian fire emergencies, including the British Columbia Bald Range wildfire emergency, have also required authorities to restrict access while crews work, although the circumstances and hazards are different.
Drivers in Chatham should rely on current local instructions before travelling through the affected section because emergency restrictions can change as firefighting, inspections and cleanup progress.
No injuries and no imminent danger reported
For people living near the plant, the most important confirmed update is that no injuries have been reported. Police also said there was no imminent danger to residents in the immediate surrounding area.
No neighbourhood evacuation had been announced in the information available Wednesday morning. People were still asked to remain clear of Bloomfield Road and Riverview Drive while crews continued working.
A contained fire does not necessarily mean the emergency response has ended. Firefighters may need additional time to cool affected equipment, identify hot spots and make sure conditions are safe before leaving an industrial site.
Cause and extent of damage remain unclear
Authorities had not publicly confirmed what sparked the fire. The extent of damage to buildings, machinery or other parts of the plant was also not immediately known.
There was no confirmed information showing that the incident caused a hazardous release, wider environmental contamination or an explosion. Those claims should not be treated as established unless emergency or environmental authorities provide supporting information.
Industrial fires can involve very different risks depending on the materials and equipment affected. During a separate Port Adelaide industrial fire emergency, authorities issued specific toxic-smoke and evacuation warnings. No equivalent warning had been reported for the Chatham ethanol plant fire in the available information.
Greenfield Global’s Chatham facility is a major operation
The affected property is a significant alcohol-production facility. According to Greenfield Global’s official information about its Chatham distillery, the operation at 275 Bloomfield Road has been producing alcohol since 1998 and uses locally sourced corn.
The company says the facility produces approximately 200 million litres of alcohol annually while using about 490,000 tonnes of locally sourced corn each year.
Annual output also includes roughly 2,800 tonnes of corn oil and 135,000 tonnes of dried distillers grains with solubles. The plant produces fuel ethanol as well as high-purity alcohol for beverage, pharmaceutical, life-science, industrial and specialty chemical applications.
The size of the operation means the condition of the facility will be important for employees, agricultural suppliers, transportation partners and customers. However, no prolonged shutdown or confirmed long-term production disruption had been announced in the available information.
Previous fires have occurred at the Chatham plant
The September 16 blaze is not the first fire reported at the site. The operation originally opened under the Commercial Alcohols name in the late 1990s.
A grain-dryer fire occurred shortly after the plant opened in 1997, with damage estimated at about $100,000. Another grain-dryer fire was reported in the spring of 1999, causing an estimated $25,000 in damage.
Those earlier incidents provide historical context only. Authorities have not said Wednesday’s blaze started in a grain dryer or involved the same circumstances, so the previous fires do not establish the cause of the latest incident.
Residents and motorists urged to stay clear
Emergency officials stressed that keeping the area clear was necessary while firefighters remained at the plant. Fire vehicles, hoses and other equipment can continue to occupy surrounding roads even after the main blaze is contained.
People living or working around Bloomfield Road should continue following instructions from Chatham-Kent authorities and avoid closed sections until normal access is officially restored.
Investigation focuses on cause and plant damage
Key details still awaiting confirmation include where the fire began, how much of the facility was affected and whether normal production can continue without a lengthy interruption. It was also unclear when the closed section of Bloomfield Road would fully reopen.
Fire crews remained on scene as officials assessed the facility. The confirmed information at the time of reporting was that the blaze had been contained, no injuries were reported and police said there was no imminent danger to nearby residents, while the cause and full extent of the damage remained undetermined.
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