On October 2, 1978, a fire at the Texaco Refinery in Port Credit caused the evacuation of more than 1000 people. The main source of the fire was in two massive storage tanks containing crude house-heating fuel. The cause of the fire was arson, and, as a result, Thomas Coxhead, one of the refinery employees, was arrested and charged with opening several valves on pipes between the tanks and igniting the oil. Fire-fighters from Mississauga, Texaco and Toronto International Airport fought the blaze for several hours. Damage was estimated at 2.7 million dollars.