Fire in Kaohsiung: Plastic Plant heater explodes, Black Smoke Towers Over Kaohsiung

Midday on December 16, 2025, a plastic-related factory inside Dafa Industrial Park [大發工業區] in Daliao District [大寮區], Kaohsiung, erupted after a suspected process heater blast. A towering column of black smoke was seen for kilometers. Initial reports cite 33 trucks and 65 responders dispatched and roads cordoned. No trapped workers had been reported by afternoon. Some details remain unverified.

Blast, fire, and a sky of soot

Witnesses said the explosion ignited nearby flammables and sent flames straight up, painting the industrial skyline jet black. The Fire Bureau reportedly received the first call at 11:30 and rushed in water lines while police sealed off surrounding roads to keep onlookers away. As of the afternoon, there were no reports of people trapped inside.

City on alert, stay indoors

Mayor Chen Chi-mai [陳其邁] was reported onsite coordinating the response (unverified). Residents were urged to limit outdoor activity and keep windows shut to avoid smoke. A prior Fire Bureau warning during a 2024 blaze still applies: “Please stay indoors, close windows, reduce going out.” (original quote trimmed)

What likely fueled the flames

Early information points to a machinery anomaly and a process heater explosion that ignited alcohol, diesel and other combustibles in the production zone. Officials are probing the exact ignition sequence. Onsite tactics focused on power isolation, cooling and anti-spread to prevent reignition or fire jumping to adjacent plants. The final cause awaits fire investigators and labor inspectors.

Pattern of smoke and fines in Dafa

Dafa has a record of smoke, explosions and chemical releases. On Oct. 29, 2025, a waste plastic fire was extinguished in about 30 minutes with no injuries. Environmental officials cited the Air Pollution Control Act, warning fines of NT$100,000 to NT$5 million and referrals under the Waste Disposal Act. On July 29, 2024, a PCB-linked factory blaze drew 39 vehicles and 94 personnel; VOCs were undetected and total hydrocarbons hovered around 1.9 ppm near background.

Impact

Why it matters

Dafa Industrial Park sits at a key logistics junction near Provincial Highway 88 and coastal facilities. Repeated smoke events alarm residents and threaten regional supply chains. Today’s blast renews questions about equipment maintenance, flammable storage, and whether monitoring tech deters sloppy operations. Stronger enforcement and faster on-site fire coverage could blunt future shocks to health and production.

Statistics

Zoom-out

Dafa’s vulnerability is structural: a dense cluster of plastics, metals and recyclers tied to major roads. Tech tools like AI smoke spotting, drones and firefighting robots help, but they are not substitutes for disciplined maintenance, safer storage and firm penalties. Until those tighten, every siren in Daliao will feel like a rerun.