An update on the aftermath of a fire at the CKF factory in Langley City says the business avoided layoffs and resumed partial production within days, rising to full production within a week after the blaze at the facility at 200 Street and 57 Avenue on Thursday, May 28.
A thank-you letter from the Langley City fire department to the Township fire department says that on the Monday following the fire, the company was back to 25 per cent production.
“One week after the fire CKF Industries had returned to full production,” adds the note from City fire chief Rory Thompson to Township fire chief Stephen Gamble.
“ … the return to production was achieved without any staff layoffs,” Thompson added.
An online profile says the factory, which makes moulded pulp and foam products like disposable plates, egg and fruit cartons, employs 150 people at the Langley address, making it the largest employer in the city.
It took 17 hours to finally extinguish the fire.
“Numerous internal obstacles and almost zero visibility presented significant challenges to fire attack teams trying to reach the seat of the fire,” Thompson said.
The pallets of egg cartons were five metres high and many more metres deep into the building, so once water got onto them, it became a soggy mess.
Fire crews worked on pulling it all apart to make sure there were no hot spots.
They were on the scene until 4 a.m. the next day.
Thompson said the City and Township departments “worked well as one team” in containing the fire.
One City firefighter fell and injured his shoulder and a Township firefighter hurt his knee battling the blaze. Both were taken to hospital.
— with files from Monique Tamminga