30 fire engines mobilized as toilet paper storage site burns down

Monday 06th July, 04:42 PM JST

KANAGAWA —

A three-floor storage building belonging to toilet paper wholesaler AZFIT Co in Aikawa, Kanagawa Prefecture, went up in flames early Monday, police and firefighters said. Police said that the blaze started around 2 a.m. Thirty fire engines rushed to the 8,800-square-meter facility, but made little headway against the blaze. By 9 a.m., the building was completely destroyed.

Police said there were 10 employees in the building at the time the fire started, but one 50-year-old man remains missing.

The cause of the fire has not been determined, although a witness said he saw a cardboard box full of toilet paper rolls outside the building burning at first.

News reports

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Latest 15 of 22 Total Comments Show All

IvanCoughalot at 05:20 PM JST - 6th July

10 employees on site at 2 am? They'll be out of a job now. Hope they don't wind up on Skid Row.
Patrick Smash at 05:23 PM JST - 6th July

2am, under the full moon, just before the crack of Dawn. Wiped out completely...
IvanCoughalot at 05:23 PM JST - 6th July

So thirty fire engines battled the flames for seven hours, but to no avail.

The fire was soft, strong, and very very long.
Patrick Smash at 05:25 PM JST - 6th July

I wonder if it might have been arson Ivan?
GW at 06:46 PM JST - 6th July

we all better start conserving some squares of butt wipe cud be in for a shortage!
doedel at 06:48 PM JST - 6th July

"shitsureisimasita" mumbled the arsonist when leaving the scene.
kumibo at 07:27 PM JST - 6th July

Are the fireman still on the scene wiping up?

Kumibo
BeaverCleaver at 07:42 PM JST - 6th July

Time to buy a washlet, before the toilet paper resources of Japan run out.

What started the toilet paper fire? I am guessing too much kimuchi. Normally only one or two rolls would burn, but this time there too many in close proximity.
gogogo at 09:44 PM JST - 6th July

Wonder if it will spark another toilet paper shortage scare.
imacat at 11:21 PM JST - 6th July

The emergency services were caught with their pants down this time.
imacat at 11:24 PM JST - 6th July

It may have been arse-on. Whoever started this fire just did it for the crack...
Den Den at 12:00 AM JST - 7th July

Sounds like a cigerette smoker did this jobbie.
TheTim at 05:30 AM JST - 7th July

There goes my plans on Halloween to "decorate" my bosses house
Altria at 09:06 AM JST - 7th July

That'll teach them not 2 ply wth fire.
IvanCoughalot at 09:22 AM JST - 7th July

The police have got nothing to go on. I bet they flush the criminal out soon. Have to go for a septic tank now...