At around 3:30 p.m. on Tuesday, October 9th three workers at the Belize Foam Factory were mixing chemicals to make foam, when fire broke out in a portion of the compound located at mile 2 and 1/2 on the George Price Highway. Fire officials quickly responded to the scene and within a matter of a half an hour, the fire had been put out.
 Charles Bou-Nehra, proprietor of the factory told The Guardian that it is not yet ascertained what caused the blaze. He noted that he has lost between 70 and 80 thousand dollars in chemicals, equipment and the structure. Bou-Nehra said that the building was a mixing room and that the foam is produced using only the required amount of chemicals that are needed for the day’s processing in the building. He said that there are about 6 chemicals that are mixed to produce foam and it is a delicate procedure to do.
Tuesday’s fire is the second one that the factory has suffered. In 2009, a fire similarly gutted a portion of the factory. Bou-Nehra said that because of the risk of fire in foam factories, he decided to separate his operation, housing various aspects of his mattress production facility in separate structures. The last time that a fire broke out at the factory, it was determined that it was as a result of faulty electrical work. This time, it is yet to be determined.
For Bou-Nehra it’s a significant blow to his operation since he is entering the high season of foam production and the fire has set him back considerably.
