October 15, 2025 – Hsinchu County, Taiwan — A major fire broke out around noon today at a large furniture factory operated by the Hsinchu County Government’s Environmental Protection Bureau in Ruixing Village, Xinfeng Township. The blaze intensified rapidly due to a large number of discarded mattresses stored at the site, sending thick black smoke billowing into the sky and filling the surrounding area with a foul odor.
Firefighters were immediately deployed to the scene to contain the flames and prevent the fire from spreading further. Authorities also issued public safety reminders, urging nearby residents to keep their doors and windows closed, limit outdoor activities, and wear masks to avoid inhaling smoke.
According to Environmental Protection Bureau Director Xiao Hongjie, the factory in Neighborhood 7 of Ruixing Village was not dismantling furniture at the time of the incident but was receiving discarded mattresses and furniture from cleaning teams across different townships. Staff members discovered the fire in the mattress storage area shortly after 12:00 noon and promptly called emergency services.
Due to the flammable nature of the mattresses and the hot autumn weather, the fire spread quickly and produced heavy smoke visible from several kilometers away. Investigators from the fire department are currently determining the exact cause of the blaze.
Xiao explained that mattresses are typically dismantled at the facility, with the cotton and fabric used as fuel and the metal parts recycled for reuse. He added that the Environmental Protection Bureau will cooperate fully with fire investigators to prevent similar incidents in the future.