By Patricia Lavoie
The call came into the Austin Fire Department just after 5:30 a.m. on March 28.
A passing motorist on Route 245 spotted flames and alerted authorities.
A chemical plant at 1030 chemin Missisquoi, South Bolton, owned by Polyrheo — manufacturer of products ranging from boiler treatment chemicals to windshield washer fluids — was ablaze.
A Massive, Uncertain Fight
Firefighters from six municipalities — Austin, Potton Township, Eastman, Knowlton/Lac-Brome, Magog, and Waterloo — responded and battled the massive fire for hours, all while unaware of the risks involved.
Pierre Desmarais, Director of Austin’s Fire and Security Service, confirmed that, due to the lack of information about the nature of hazardous materials inside the structure, the team moved into “defensive mode” — meaning they fought the fire only from the outside.
Residents nearby were advised to stay indoors and to avoid drinking well water.
Despite multiple requests, Polyrheo did not provide details about the materials inside until long after the fire was extinguished.
Environmental Concerns
Between 7 a.m. and 8 a.m., Desmarais requested the immediate dispatch of a technician from Urgence-Environnement Québec, as green runoff was visibly seeping from the warehouse into a nearby creek.
- A representative arrived before the blaze was fully extinguished.
- Hazardous waste was detected in the Missisquoi River.
- The Environment Ministry conducted tests on both the extinguishing water and the nearby creek.
- Test results are pending.
Desmarais also noted that verification of chemical plants and their hazardous material inventories is now underway in the region.
Moving Forward
The Environment Ministry continues to monitor the situation.
Tony Thomas, president of Polyrheo, stated that the company’s priority is to clean up the area to ensure no ongoing contamination.
A heartfelt thanks to our courageous firefighters who bravely responded under uncertain and dangerous conditions.
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