Fire-hit Pampanga tire factory suspends operations; at least 900 workers affected

May 15, 2017 - 11:47 AM
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A giant cloud of fumes forms above a residential area in Clark, Pampanga amid a fire engulfing the factory of Yokohama Tire Philippines Inc., Sunday, May 14, 2017. Photo by Jess Malabanan/InterAksyon

CLARK FREEPORT – Plant operations at the Yokohama Tire Philippines Inc. (YTPI), the biggest tire manufacturing firm in Southeast Asia, has been suspended temporarily to give way for the clearing of debris brought about by a fire that broke Sunday afternoon, a key official of the company said.

Angelina Casasola, YTPI vice president for administration, said about 900 workers in the morning shift had been advised not to report due to stoppage of plant operations. YTPI has more than 2,000 employees.

“Work is temporarily suspended now while clearing operations is ongoing,” Casasola told InterAksyon in a phone interview Monday.

Fire Chief Inspector Mitch Hadjula, spokesperson of the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), said arson investigators were still checking the area to determine the cause of fire and the exact cost of the damage caused by the incident that reached Task Force Bravo.

Hadjula said the fire broke out past 3 p.m., and rapidly spread in the entire warehouse of the tire manufacturing plant. The area was placed under control after more than two hours.

“Fire fighters from Clark surroundings communities rushed to help put out the fire,” said Hadjula, adding that firemen encountered difficulties at the scene due to black thick smoke emanating from the tire factory.

The BFP sent 10 fire fighting units excluding several fire trucks from the Clark Development Corporation and Clark International Airport Corporation, according to Hadjula.

The Yokohama Rubber Company, Ltd. (YRC) partnered with JFE Shoji Trade Corporation (formerly Kawasho Corporation) established its first tire manufacturing facility in Asia outside Japan. The April 30, 1996 joint venture created a subsidiary company, Yokohama Tire Philippines, Inc. that aimed to produce Yokohama brand passenger car radial and recreational vehicle tires for the global market .

In 2013, YTPI produced an average of 18,000 tires per day. From a mix of 13 to 18-inch tire sizes, 93 percent was exported worldwide, while the rest was sold in the local market.