November 13, 2015 Updated 11/13/2015
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Preferred Display Inc. Preferred Display makes acrylic display units for customers including Kansas City-based Beauty Brands
A major Nov. 10 fire destroyed a Glastonbury, Conn., manufacturing facility operated by Preferred Display Inc., a maker of acrylic display units for retail businesses.
“The fire started in one of the production areas. How it started is still being investigated,” said Glastonbury Fire Chief Michael Thurz, in a Nov. 13 phone interview.
He said that the fire started about mid-day and that more than100 firefighters helped to get it under control. Two days later they were still extinguishing hot spots.
“We used firefighters from all over. There were no fire hydrants so it was difficult,” Thurz said.
He added that the building was located in the middle of a bowl-like area, so smoke permeated local homes. Some of the nearby homes were evacuated and officials did air-quality testing before letting people back in the area.
He said Preferred Display workers were able to escape the fire uninjured and there no injuries in fighting the fire. The building suffered significant damage. Local news reports said that between 50 and 75 people worked in the building.
Preferred Display’s corporate headquarters is in Clifton, N.J. The company supplies acrylic displays to retail stores such as Macy’s, Sephora, Kohl’s and Dillard’s. Company officials were not available for comment.
