Late-Night Fire Breaks Out At Major Windsor Locks Manufacturing Plant

WINDSOR LOCKS, CT — A late-night fire inside a piece of industrial equipment at a major Windsor Locks manufacturing plant was brought under control early Wednesday morning, with sprinklers playing a key role in limiting damage and no injuries reported, fire officials said.

The Windsor Locks Fire Department was dispatched at 10:47 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 27, to the Ahlstrom Nonwovens facility at 11 Canal Bank Road for a reported structure fire. Firefighters arriving on scene found a fire inside a drying oven that had extended into ductwork and the roof of the building.

Officials said the building’s automatic sprinkler system activated and helped control the spread of the fire. Crews then worked to extinguish remaining fire in the ductwork and portions of the machinery that were shielded from sprinkler water.

Mutual aid was provided by multiple departments, including Warehouse Point, Bradley Airport, Windsor, Broad Brook, and the Enfield Task Force, which includes units from Enfield, North Thompsonville, Thompsonville, Hazardville, and Shaker Pines. Windsor Locks police and ambulance services also assisted at the scene.

The fire was brought under control at approximately 1 a.m., with all units clearing by about 2:15 a.m. Wednesday. Fire Marshal Michael L. Sinsigalli said the fire was accidental and traced to an issue with a piece of equipment. No injuries were reported, and the facility was expected to resume operations Wednesday with the exception of the damaged unit.

The plant, operated by Ahlstrom, is one of the company’s largest manufacturing sites worldwide and a major employer in Windsor Locks. The site has been in continuous operation for more than 250 years, dating back to 1767 when it began as the Dexter Company before later being acquired by Ahlstrom, which is headquartered in Finland. The facility employs more than 300 people and operates around the clock year-round.

State legislators toured the plant in December, including Tami Zawistowski, John A. Kissel, and Jane Garibay. During the visit, officials were briefed on the company’s long-term investments in Windsor Locks and its role as a key production hub within Ahlstrom’s global operations.

Products manufactured at the Canal Bank Road facility include specialty fiber materials used in Keurig K-Cups, tea bags such as Bigelow, and medical-grade materials including Level 4 surgical gowns and drapes. During the COVID-19 pandemic, portions of the plant were retooled to produce personal protective equipment for hospitals.

The facility relies heavily on water drawn from the Connecticut River, diverting and returning approximately 6 million gallons per day. Company officials have said the water is treated on intake and returned to the river significantly cleaner than when it entered the plant. The site has also made major investments in on-site gas turbine technology, allowing it to generate much of its own electricity and feed excess power back into the electrical grid.

Photos from the scene were provided by Deputy Chief Long.