A massive overnight fire has devastated the Lloyoll Prefabs modular home manufacturing plant located on the South Shore in Brooklyn, N.S.
Emergency Response and Structural Failure
Volunteer firefighters and multiple departments from the Liverpool area arrived on the scene just before 1 a.m. Thursday to combat the blaze. The intensity of the fire led to a significant structural failure of the facility.
Jonathan Lloy, president of Lloyoll, stated that the roof of the 20,000 square foot steel frame building collapsed during the incident. Lloy noted that the extreme heat likely changed the shape and composition of the steel beams, causing the building to collapse in on itself.
The emergency response required the RCMP to close a stretch of Highway 3 in Brooklyn. The roadway remained closed although crews fought the fire, eventually reopening around noon Thursday.
Business Impact and Record Growth
The fire occurred during a period of unprecedented growth for the manufacturer. Lloy confirmed that this was the company’s best year for both sales and production, noting that forecasts were stronger than they had ever been.
Despite the devastation of the facility, Lloy confirmed that no one was injured in the fire. He described the company’s current situation as a “break in our stride” rather than a stop.
Recovery and Next Steps
Lloy stated that the company has “gotten good at modular” and is now looking toward recovery. A contingency plan is likely to be implemented to acquire operations back up and running as soon as possible.
As of Thursday afternoon, officials have provided no word on the cause of the fire. The company continues to gather more information regarding the extent of the damage.
Frequently Asked Questions
Were there any casualties in the fire?
No, Lloyoll president Jonathan Lloy confirmed that no one was hurt in the fire.
What caused the building to collapse?
The facility was a 20,000 square foot steel frame building; Jonathan Lloy indicated that the heat likely changed the composition and shape of the steel beams, leading the building to collapse in on itself.
What is the current status of the cause of the fire?
As of Thursday afternoon, there was no word on the cause of the fire.
How should local industries better prepare contingency plans for unexpected infrastructure disasters?
