Category Archives: Other – Manufacturing

Manufacturing, Other - Manufacturing

Harrisburg, PA – Sprinkler system limits spread of fire in exhaust stack at industrial facility

A Wednesday last night fire at a Harrisburg industrial site damaged a roof and exhaust stack, but no one was injured as a result of the blaze. That is according to Harrisburg Bureau of Fire Chief Brian Enterline, who said firefighters were called about 9:38 p.m. to the 1300 block of North Cameron Street, where a fire was reported at the Dayton Parts building. According to Enterline, the fire began in an industrial machine and spread up through an exhaust stack to the building’s roof.

Firefighters were able to respond within only a few minutes of the call, and they quickly extinguished the flames, Enterline said, explaining that the exhaust stack was destroyed but damage to the roof was only “superficial.”

A sprinkler system also activated and helped to slow the fire as it spread, Enterline said. While fighting the fire, water got into a large tank holding oil typically used to cool hot metal parts at Dayton, Enterline said. The water caused the tanks to overflow and spill oil, he said. However, he added that quick actions by both firefighters and Dayton employees helped to keep the oil from entering the local sewer system or nearby Paxton Creek. “It’s all contained to the building,” Enterline said.

Manufacturing, Other - Manufacturing

Elkhart, IN – Sprinkler system kept fire from spreading at chemical distribution center

Officials with the Elkhart Fire Department said that no cause was determined during their investigation into an early morning fire at EMCO Chemical Distribution Center on Friday.

Firefighters responded to a fire alarm at EMCO Chemical Distribution Center, located on the 3500 block of Cooper Drive in Elkhart around 1:55 a.m. on Friday.

Upon arrival, firefighters did not find an alarm sounding from the exterior, but noticed light smoke coming from the top of a door and water running from underneath the door.

A full response call was put out by the firefighters due to the weather conditions.

Firefighters forced a door open and found the inside of the building filled with heavy smoke.

A semi-truck was also involved, with a fire in the engine compartment.

A sprinkler system was keeping the fire from spreading throughout the rest of the building.

The fire was deemed under control around 2:25 a.m.

According to fire department documents, the cause of the fire remains undetermined due to fire damage to the vehicle.

No one was inside of the building at the time of fire and no injuries were reported.

An ambulance was on the scene to keep firefighters warm while they worked to put the fire out.

Manufacturing, Other - Manufacturing

New Hamburg, ON, Canada – Sprinkler system extinguished fire at factory; No injuries reported

Fire crews responded to a factory in New Hamburg Saturday afternoon.

One person was inside the Eurocan Pet Products building when firefighters from New Hamburg and Baden showed up.

The building was filled with smoke but the fire had been put out by the sprinkler system by the time crews arrived.

Factory fire in New Hamburg leads to an investigation.

“The sprinkler did its job. Controlled and extinguished the fire and contained it to just the one office,” says Russell Strickler, a Chief with the New Hamburg Fire Department.

An investigation is underway to determine how the fire started.

No injuries were reported.

Manufacturing, Other - Manufacturing

Cape Girardeau, MO – Sprinkler system activated for semi-truck fire at Buzzi Unicem; No injuries reported

Cape Girardeau and Scott City firefighters responded to a fire Friday night at the Buzzi Unicem Alternative Fuels facility in south Cape Girardeau.

Upon arrival just after 8 p.m. at the facility, 2524 S. Sprigg St., firefighters found light smoke coming from a semitruck and trailer in the fuel unloading area, according to an incident report from Cape Girardeau battalion chief Randy Morris. The sprinkler system had been activated and foam was flowing, the report stated. Fire personnel set up for a foam operation and extinguished a small fire coming from the semitruck, which contained waste oil.

The waste oil and foam were held in a containment area and did not pose any life or environmental concerns, according to the report. The Alternative Fuels facility uses waste oils to power the Buzzi Unicem plant in place of coal, Morris said in the report.

Because of below-freezing temperatures at the time of the fire, ice was formed, creating slip hazards for firefighters, the report stated.

Morris said the Alternative Fuels facility has participated in tours and drills with the Cape Girardeau Fire Department and the Regional Homeland Security Response Team, which helped save time during this actual emergency situation.

Other - Manufacturing, Other Business

Lacassine, LA – Sprinkler system contains fire at textile mill

State Fire Marshal deputies are on the scene of a fire at an industrial business in Lacassine

The call to investigate the origin and cause of the fire came in just after 2:15 p.m. to Zagis USA. The business is a textile mill located in the 21000 block of Louisiana Cotton Drive which is near Iowa.

Fortunately, the Marshal’s Office reports that the facility’s sprinkler system activated to limit the extent of the fire and the fire alarm alerted employees to the danger, preventing injuries.

Manufacturing, Other - Manufacturing

Racine, WI – Large structure fire in wood shop kept in check by sprinkler system

A potentially large structure fire was kept at bay by an active sprinkler, Racine Fire Department officials said in a release issued Wednesday.

At 9:12 p.m. Tuesday, the Fire Department was dispatched to 1509 Rapids Drive for an active fire alarm.

Fire officials found a small, smoky fire inside of a tenant’s wood shop. The fire was kept in check by an active fire sprinkler, and firefighters were able to quickly extinguish the fire.

After investigating, the cause of the fire was determined to be improperly stored oily rags. The property was then turned back over to the wood shop tenant.

The fire caused an estimated $2,500 in damage. There were no injuries, fire officials said.

Manufacturing, Other - Manufacturing

Dover, OH – Sprinkler system contained fire at Dover Chemical until fire crews arrived; No injuries reported

A sprinkler system contained a fire at Dover Chemical early Tuesday, according to Dover fire Capt. Bryan German.

Firefighters called to the scene at 12:43 a.m. found smoke and fire visible in a five-story building of the plant at 3676 Davis Road.

Firefighters used water and foam to finish extinguishing the fire.

“It was determined that a mechanical failure in a hot oil pump had malfunctioned and caused the fire,” German said in a press release. “Damage was limited to the pump and a very small portion of some surrounding equipment. All the water runoff and hot oil went into Dover Chemical’s containment system as designed.”

German did not have a damage estimate.

No injury was reported to plant or fire personnel.

Dover firefighters were assisted by others from New Philadelphia, Sugarcreek, Strasburg, Bolivar, Wayne Township, Mineral City and Uhrichsville. Smith Ambulance also responded.

The fire was under control within about 15 minutes of firefighters’ arrival, according to Dover fire Lt. Joseph Minocchi. Dover firefighters returned to their station at 3 a.m.

Other departments were released from the scene about an hour after being called, according to Dover fire Capt. Brooks Ross.

Other - Manufacturing, Other Business

Monroe, MI – Fire at packaging business knocked down by sprinkler system

A Monroe business sustained some damage after fire broke out Saturday.  Firefighters were called to Complete Packaging Inc., 633 Detroit Ave., around 6:15 p.m.  Monroe Fire Chief Robert Wight said a sprinkler system helped to save the structure. Some products inside the facility were damaged due to the blaze.  “They knocked it down pretty fast,” the chief said. The cause of the fire is under investigation.

Other - Manufacturing, Other Business

Elkton, MD – Authorities credit sprinkler system with extinguishing blaze in chemical mixing room

Investigators are crediting a sprinkler system for extinguishing a blaze Monday morning inside a chemical mixing room at a medical products plant in Elkton, allowing the three employees in that area to escape safely, according to the Maryland State Fire Marshal’s Office.  Workers called 911 at approximately 7:15 a.m. Monday, after discovering the fire inside a Terumo Medical Corp. building in the 100 block of Blue Ball Road, fire officials said. About 10 firefighters with Singerly Volunteer Fire Co. of Elkton and Aetna Hook, Hose and Ladder Co. in Newark, Del., responded to the call, but the blaze had been extinguished by the time they arrived, fire officials added.

“The fire was contained to the chemical room after the sprinkler system activated,” said Sr. Deputy State Fire Marshal Oliver J. Alkire, an agency spokesman, adding, “Three employees inside the room were able to safely escape.”  Investigators estimated that that part of the building sustained $25,000 in structural damage, according to Alkire, who further reported that no other property was damaged. Investigators identified the property owner as Terumo Medical Corp., which manufactures medical devices and supplies.

Fire detectives listed the cause of the blaze as accidental, after concluding that static electricity inside the chemical mixing room triggered the fire, Alkire said. Because the fire occurred in a place containing chemicals, he added, the Cecil County Hazmat Team also was dispatched to the scene.

Manufacturing, Other - Manufacturing

Martinsburg, WV – Sprinkler system contains fire at Macy’s fulfillment center; No injuries reported

Macy’s officials do not know when the company’s fulfillment center north of Martinsburg will reopen, following a fire Saturday night.

The retailer had a limited crew at the 333 Caperton Blvd. facility Sunday, looking at the safety of the site and equipment, Macy’s spokeswoman Andrea Schwartz wrote in an email.

No one was hurt in the fire, but the blaze damaged about 2 percent of the materials in the 2 million-square-foot facility, Hedgesville Volunteer Fire Capt. Brian Mulligan said.

The fire remained under investigation by the West Virginia State Fire Marshal’s Office. Additional investigative work needs to be done before a cause is determined, Assistant State Fire Marshal George Harms wrote in an email late Sunday afternoon.

The fulfillment center employs approximately 5,000 people, 980 of whom were evacuated Saturday night, Schwartz wrote.

The volume at the Martinsburg-area facility was shifted to other “mega” fulfillment centers to serve customers, she wrote.

The holiday season is a busy time for the 24-hour fulfillment center.

The temperature outside was in the low 40s when workers were evacuated. Mulligan said he wasn’t sure how long people stood around before being sent home.

“It could have been worse. Everybody did an excellent job,” Mulligan said.

Company officials are thankful all the employees are “safe and accounted for, with no injuries,” Schwartz wrote.

The retailer is supporting fire officials with the investigation, she wrote.

The fire was reported at 7:39 p.m. Saturday, a Berkeley County 911 dispatcher said.

The sprinkler system activated, along with the fire alarm, and did a good job, Mulligan said.

“It kept it contained. Thank God,” Mulligan said.

The building is fine, but the fire extended up racks of packages three stories high, Mulligan said.

An estimated 60 firefighters responded from Hedgesville, Martinsburg, Bedington, Baker Heights, the West Virginia Air National Guard and Back Creek Valley. The rehab unit from Washington County also responded.

Mulligan said an airboat, on a trailer from Frederick County, Md., was backed up to a loading dock so its large fan could be used to eject smoke from the building. An airboat was similarly used at a Winchester, Va., warehouse fire in the last year or two.

There were a lot of burnt, wet packages at the Macy’s facility, he confirmed.

Macy’s personnel had been on “fire watch” in case the blaze reignited because the fire knocked out the alarm system, Mulligan said Sunday morning.

Firefighters were able to use water-supply hookups in the building, with one stationed every 500 feet.