Oxnard, CA – Sprinkler system assist firefighters in knocking down fire at manufacturing plant

A piece of equipment at an Oxnard manufacturing facility caught fire Saturday morning, summoning fire engines and two ladder trucks, officials said. The commercial structure fire was reported around 9:25 a.m. at 1400 Statham Parkway at a Haas Automation Inc. facility, authorities said. The street is in an industrial area off Statham Boulevard on the south side of Oxnard Boulevard. A sanding unit at the site caught fire, said Oxnard Fire Department Battalion Chief Steve McNaughten. A sprinkler system in the building was activated, he said. Employees evacuated the building and called 911, McNaughten said. No injuries were reported. Responding fire personnel found light smoke at the scene and were able to hold the fire to the sanding unit, he said. Six fire engines, two ladder trucks and a battalion chief, all from the Oxnard department, responded. Crews were able to knock down the fire within 15 minutes and had put it out by 9:55 a.m., McNaughten said. They remained on the scene for a time to recover smoke and remove water from the fire-suppression effort, he said.