Exploding ALBO Canned Inventory Fuels Fire

04 August 2015

More than 200 people were evacuated in an industrial area of Vigo yesterday after a building set to be turned into a tuna cannery caught fire. It stopped the production at the ALBO tuna plant.

Previously owned by Freiremar, the building had only been under new management for three months by cold storage logistics company, Frigalsa, which wanted to open the new cannery by September this year.

However, the building was seen producing plumes of smoke at noon yesterday, prompting neighbors to call the emergency services.

More than 200 workers in the area were forced to halt production and evacuate their buildings, including premium tuna brand ALBO, which packs mainly bonito del norte (albacore).

With the help of a police helicopter, the local fire department spent the next two hours getting the fire under control but it was early evening before the fire was extinguished completely.

It is thought the fire began after employees, who were working to renovate the building, failed to monitor the sparks which were being produced by welders.

The material which lined the walls was highly combustible and immediately caught fire. The heat then began making tuna cans, which were being stored in the ALBO warehouse, start exploding with the oil contained in them fueling the fire further.

Firefighters focused on limiting damage to nearby companies, including ALBO’s building, but the EUR 500,000 renovation of Frigalsa’s building has been left with extensive damage.

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