Rucaray fire

Photo: El Rancaguino

Police in Rancagua are investigating a fire that broke out at the Los Lirios packhouse of leading Chilean grower-exporter Rucaray on Sunday.

The blaze, the second at the facility in as many weeks, destroyed 5,000 fruit bins – 4,500 of which were made of plastic and 500 of wood.

The authorities have yet establish the cause of the fire and are refusing to rule out foul play.

A report issued by the Requínoa Fire Brigade stated that there was no obvious heat source in the area where the bins were located, prompting speculation that some form of accelerant was used to start the blaze.

Detectives are awaiting the results of the fire report which has been sent to the prosecutor in Rengo.