Residents gather to watch the smoke and flames billow from the Plastimet recycling plant on the first night of the fight against the flames. Officials were poised to evacuate hundreds of people from the heart of the city as the fire raged.
John Rennison / Canadian Press
The image that became synonomous with the Plastimet fire and its effects on the city, on July 9, 1997.
The initial response to the Plastimet fire.
The Hamilton Spectator
Two firefighters not wearing air packs are surrounded by toxic smoke from the Plastinet fire as they manned firefighting equipment.
The Hamilton Spectator
Lieutenants Jim McCutcheon and Dale Burrows of the Hamilton Fire Department expressed concern about the high incidence of occupational illness for firefighters especially after the highly toxic Plastimet fire which both firefighters spent several day fighting.
The Hamilton Spectator
Bob Shaw, who was the subject of a special investigative project by The Spectator’s Jon Wells, on scene at Plastimet in July 1997. He died of esophageal cancer in 2004.
Residents gather to watch the smoke and flames billow from the Plastimet recycling plant on the first night of the fight against the flames. Officials were poised to evacuate hundreds of people from the heart of the city as the fire raged.
Plastics recycler Plastimet Inc. on Wellington Street North had more than 400 tonnes of PVC and other plastics stored on-site when it erupted in flames on July 9, 1997. It burned for four days, spewing clouds with dioxin and other hazardous chemicals into the air.
Nearby residents were moved to safety. People in the area were told not to eat vegetables from their soot-covered gardens and many expressed fears about the long-term health consequences for firefighters and others exposed to the toxic chemicals.
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The image that became synonomous with the Plastimet fire and its effects on the city, on July 9, 1997.
The fire is remembered as the one of worst environmental disasters in Canadian history. It heightened awareness about issues with plastic storage and led to criticism of government officials for allowing so many plastics to be stored in one location.
Firefighters have argued their health was placed at risk by battling the fire, and they believe the fire contributed to cancer cases since. At least one firefighter’s death, Captain Bob Shaw, was linked to exposure.
July 9, 1997: The Plastimet fire rages in Hamilton, started by an 8-year-old arsonist.
July 12, 1997: The main fire is out, but spot fires last for three weeks; 264 of Hamilton’s 400 firefighters play some role in fighting the blaze; 22 million gallons of water are poured on it. More than 400 tonnes of plastic burned.
Two firefighters not wearing air packs are surrounded by toxic smoke from the Plastinet fire as they manned firefighting equipment.
The Hamilton Spectator
July 21, 1997: Captain Bob Shaw, who worked the fire, sees his doctor and complains of a sore throat. It looks slightly red upon examination. A nagging cough develops and never completely abates.
May 2003: Shaw is diagnosed with cancer of the esophagus.
June 2003: Claim for Shaw’s disease is filed to the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board.
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Lieutenants Jim McCutcheon and Dale Burrows of the Hamilton Fire Department expressed concern about the high incidence of occupational illness for firefighters especially after the highly toxic Plastimet fire which both firefighters spent several day fighting.
The Hamilton Spectator
November 2003: The WSIB claim is denied. Esophageal cancer is not among the cancers the WSIB recognizes at the time as being one caused by firefighting.
March 24, 2004: Shaw dies in hospital.
March 27, 2004: Line of duty funeral for Shaw in Hamilton.
Sept. 18, 2004: Shaw’s name is among those honoured in Colorado Springs at the Fallen Firefighter Memorial for those who died in the line of duty.
Feb. 26, 2005: Four-week Spectator series, Heat, written by Jon Wells, begins.
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May 4, 2006: Hamilton East MPP Andrea Horwath’s Bob Shaw Bill introduced at Queen’s Park.
May 3, 2007: Legislation is introduced, and passes all three readings in one afternoon, that will make it easier for firefighter occupational health claims to be recognized, including Bob Shaw’s.
Bob Shaw, who was the subject of a special investigative project by The Spectator’s Jon Wells, on scene at Plastimet in July 1997. He died of esophageal cancer in 2004.
