UPDATE: Wednesday afternoon, the State Fire Marshal and Kentland Fire Department determined that static electricity from a machine inside the facility caused a spark that started the fire.
KENTLAND, Ind.–A packaging facility in Kentland is considered a total loss because of a fire Tuesday night.
It happened at the International Cushioning Company at about 8:30, which is on the corner of the U.S. 24 and U.S. 41, near U.S. 52. WLFI said 15 employees were inside at the time of the fire but they all made it out safely. No one was hurt.
Firefighters said the fire was emitting toxic fumes into the air, so they were telling people who live near the facility to close their windows and avoid the area. International Cushioning Company makes packing peanuts and bubble wrap, which are flammable. The building is about 44,000 square feet.
There were firefighters from Tippecanoe, Newton, White, Cass, and Warren Counties helping put out the fire.
The company has only been in that building for about a year. Investigators are trying to figure out what caused the fire.
(PHOTO: Wabash Township Fire Department)
