Update: Fire at Grand Rapids’ Kindel Furniture

Yesterday, around 12:30 in the afternoon, the old Kindel furniture factory at 100 Garden St. SE caught fire. Throughout the evening and through today, fire crews fought the blaze that started when a welding crew on the top floor hit a line containing lacquer. The line caught fire and fire spread through the building. WZZM reports:

Grand Rapids Fire Department Battalion Chief Bart Perry said, "Although we don't like anyone breathing smoke, we're particularly concerned about chemicals in the smoke from the manufacturing process.  Initially we thought there were large amounts of lacquer stored in the building.  That appears to not be the case."

Perry says the smoke stayed mainly above neighborhoods that were close by so they did not have to order an evacuation.  No one was hurt because of the fire.

Smoke could be seen for miles.

About a dozen contractors were at the site when the fire started, but they were able to escape. The president of Kindel and Taylor Company tells WZZM that furniture is no longer made at the factory.

According to the company's website, the original plant was built in 1912. In World War II, Kindel created the Grand Rapids War Industries Group to help build wood glider plane parts.

Last year, Kindel merged with the Taylor Company and moved to 4047 Eastern Avenue.

Firefighters continue to monitor the scene today.