Category Archives: Manufacturing

Manufacturing, Manufacturing Plant

Abilene, TX – Sprinkler system activated in fire at boat manufacturing facility

One Tigé Boats employee was treated for smoke inhalation after a boat caught fire at the manufacturing facility at 1801 State Highway 36 on Monday. The Abilene Fire Department arrived at the plant at about 10:20 p.m. to find employees had pulled a boat on fire outside. The firefighters extinguished the fire in the boat and ventilated the building with large fans, according to an AFD news release. The fire started in the boat’s motor compartment while about half-way through the assembly line process, the AFD stated. “Employees used numerous fire extinguishers to extinguish the fire, and the sprinkler system was activated,” according to the news release. The boat sustained an estimated $100,000 in damage. There also was minor water damage to the building, AFD stated.

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, Manufacturing Plant

Fort Dodge, IA – Paint booth fire at manufacturing plant contained by sprinkler system; No injuries

A fire ignited inside a paint booth at the Josephson Manufacturing Co. plant in Fort Dodge late Wednesday night. A sprinkler system confined the flames to the booth. No one was injured. Police and firefighters were called to the plant at 216 Central Ave. at about 11 p.m. because the fire alarm, burglar alarm and sprinkler system all activated. Smoke was coming out of the building in several places when firefighters arrived, according to Fire Department Capt. Jeff Hill. He said firefighters forced open the front door and pulled a hoseline inside.

“The sprinkler system kept the fire contained in the paint booth until we could get a crew inside to extinguish what was burning,“ Hill said. “It was pretty thick smoke. They had zero visibility going in there.” The cause of the fire remains under investigation.

Manufacturing, Manufacturing Plant

Marshalltown, IA – Early morning fire at manufacturing facility contained by sprinkler system

The Marshalltown Fire Department responded to a manufacturing facility filled with smoke early Tuesday morning. Around 5:15 a.m. Tuesday, the Marshalltown Fire Department was dispatched to Bruin Manufacturing located at 607 N 4th Avenue for an automatic fire alarm. Upon arrival, fire crews found nothing visible from the exterior and water flowing from a sprinkler drain on the front of the building. Upon entry to the building, it was found to be charged with smoke.

Once suppression equipment was in place, the entry team found a single machine on fire with a sprinkler head activated above the fire keeping the fire contained. Fire personnel extinguished the remaining fire with a single attack line without incident. The fire was caused by a hydraulic line failure and ignition of the petroleum based hydraulic fluid. The building was not occupied at the time of the fire, there were no injuries associated with the incident. Marshalltown Police, Unity Point EMS, and Alliant Energy assisted at the scene. Fire Department units were at the scene for approximately 90 minutes

Manufacturing, Manufacturing Plant

Morganton, NC – Sprinkler system activated at Molded Fiberglass plant

The Morganton Department of Public Safety responded Wednesday (January 2) to a fire at the Molded Fiberglass plant at 213 Reep Drive. Firefighters were dispatched at 9:07 a.m. Wednesday, upon arrival, responding units were met with smoke and flames coming from the roof and around one of the ovens inside the plant. All employees had evacuated after trying initially to knock down the flames with a fire extinguisher.

The sprinkler system activated when the fire blew out the top of an oven used to mold fiberglass vehicle parts and ignited dust and resin collected on the building’s structural beams above. The fire spread to the ceiling and through a wall to the roof quickly. There were no injuries and property damage was confined to one section of the roof and a vent system.

Morganton fire units were on the scene for over two hours extinguishing the blaze and checking for fire extension. Burke County EMS responded to assist Morganton with any medical issues or injuries. The damage to the building was minimal and plant operations resumed as soon as the fire equipment and personnel were removed from the roof and oven room. A news release says the fire does not appear to be suspicious.

Manufacturing, Manufacturing Plant

Windsor, ON, Canada – Sprinkler system activated at rubber processing plant

Windsor Fire and Rescue Services firefighters at the scene of a fire at Windsor Rubber Processing Ltd. at 1680 Kildare Road on Dec. 27, 2018. Emergency crews were called out during the noon hour after a machine that shreds rubber overheated, igniting fine fibres in the air. The plant’s sprinkler system extinguished a small fire before fire crews arrived. Firefighters spent nearly two hours at the scene, chasing down glowing embers in the rafters of the evacuated industrial facility. Total damages were described as minor by city fire officials.

Manufacturing, Manufacturing Plant

Rochester, NY – Sprinkler system suppresses Christmas Eve fire at electronics manufacturer

A Rochester electronics manufacturer that suffered a Christmas Eve fire won’t be able to reopen Wednesday.  Instead, general manager Michael Schlehr said a few workers will be cleaning up and assessing the damage from a two-alarm fire Monday at Coast to Coast Circuits, 205 La Grange Ave.  Firefighters responded to an automatic alarm at around 4:30 p.m. Monday. Smoke was visible when the first crew arrived. A second alarm was called at 4:54 p.m. and a level 0 hazmat emergency also was called. The fire was under control at 5:36 p.m.

The business, which employs nearly 40 people, was closed for Christmas Eve.  “Nobody was hurt,” Schlehr said. “Nobody was affected physically. We’re thankful about that. In terms of the business, we’re very saddened. It’s a very tight-knit group of people.”  The facility is the New York division for Coast to Coast Circuits, which according to its website makes advanced printed circuit boards. Customers include the aerospace, defense, semiconductor, medical and wireless industries.  It was founded in 1974 and was called Metro Circuits before being rebranded a few years ago.  A division opened in Huntington Beach, California, in the early 1980s. In 1989, the two operations were incorporated into one privately held company, according to the website.

Schlehr, who also is chief financial officer of the company, said that 18 months ago, the ownership group was talked out of closing the La Grange site. Schlehr said the company downsized and turned things around. “Over the last 18 months we came together and did a great job. We became profitable consistently and the ownership group has really noticed that. We banded together and functioned as a team. It’s sad to see this happen.”

The building’s sprinkler system put out most of the fire.  “I can’t say enough about the city firefighters,” Schlehr said. “They were fabulous. They were there in force and strong. They kept us apprised all the time. They were very safe.”

Schlehr said he initially thought things weren’t too bad. “When you get in there, there’s a lot of damage. The smoke and the residue left by the smoke is very damaging to electronic equipment and circuit boards, and that’s our business.”  He said it may take several days to determine the condition of the high-tech and precision manufacturing equipment and the finished products.  “Unless it’s perfect, it’s unshippable,” he said. “That’s a concern.”

Schlehr said it’s too soon to know what caused the fire. According to a fire department news release, the fire began in the plate room. Fire spread to the roof, overhead vents and PVC pipes, compromising containers of sulfuric acid. The hazmat emergency was declared because water came into contact with the acid. Firefighters entered and contained the leaks.

Manufacturing, Manufacturing Plant

Henrietta, NY – Fire contained by sprinkler system at manufacturing plant

A fire broke out Sunday morning at ORAFOL Precision Technology Solutions in Henrietta shortly after 6:30 a.m. .

The Henrietta Fire District said the fire was contained to an area of the building that contained an 800-gallon container of Sodium Hydroxide which is a chemical used in the manufacturing process to clean machinery.

According to fire crews, the fire was contained by the buildings fire sprinkler system but was not fully extinguished. Fire crews fully extinguished the fire quickly while using extinguishers and hose lines.

A Level 1 Haz-Mat was declared due to the chemicals involved in the fire and mixed in with the sprinkler water run-off, which brought a full response from the Monroe County Fire Bureau’s Haz-Mat team.

Henrietta Fire said there was never a threat to the public as a result of the fire or chemicals involved.

Crews will remain on site to monitor the air and water in addition to helping come up with a plan to clean the contaminated water from the building.

Henrietta Fire was assisted by Monroe County Sheriffs, the Monroe County Fire Bureau, Gates, Chili, Pittsford, Honeoye Falls, and East Avon fire departments; as well as CHS Ambulance and Monroe Ambulance. 

Manufacturing, Manufacturing Plant

Hamilton, ON, Canada – Fire in dust collector at manufacturing facility contained by sprinkler system; No injuries reported

Hamilton firefighters were called to National Steelcar for an early morning blaze.  Fire officials believe a spark ignited combustible materials in the company’s dust collection system.  The building’s sprinkler had the blaze under control when firefighters arrived, but crews had to open the dust collection system and remove the filter to put out the fire.  The flames didn’t spread to the rest of the building, and all employees managed to escape without injury.