Category Archives: Manufacturing

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.

Manufacturing, Manufacturing Plant

Federalsburg, MD – Storage room fire in industrial building brought under control by sprinkler system; 200 employees safe

A fire in a storage room damaged a Caroline County industrial building on Tuesday night. The fire was reported at the Dart Plant at 1000 Industrial Park Drive shortly after 9:30 p.m. According to the Maryland State Fire Marshal’s Office, the building’s sprinkler system had the fire under control before firefighters with the Federalsburg Volunteer Fire Company arrived. Damage to the structure and its contents is estimated at $6,000. Fire investigators say about 200 employees were in the building at the time of the fire. There were no reported injuries. Investigators determined the fire started in a storage room above the plant’s maintenance shop. Anyone with additional information about this incident is asked to contact the Office of the State Fire Marshal, Upper Eastern Regional Office 410-822-7609.

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.

Manufacturing, Manufacturing Plant

Chicago, IL – Sprinkler system assist firefighters in extinguishing fire at mattress factory

Chicago firefighters were called to a report of a fire in a mattress factory in West Garfield Park on Sunday morning, officials reported. About 7:40 a.m. emergency responders first were called to 4444 W. Ohio St. on the West Side for a report of a fire at a mattress factory. The building was evacuated and no one was reported injured, according to tweets from the Chicago Fire Department.  The fire later became a two-alarm fire, meaning additional resources were needed. In one tweet, the Chicago Fire Department said water was on the fire, both from a sprinkler system inside the building that activated and from firefighters trying to combat the flames. In another, officials said they were working to ventilate the building. In a tweet just after 9 a.m., officials reported the fire was out and an extensive ventilation and overhaul was in progress. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.

Manufacturing, Manufacturing Plant

Altamont, IL – Fire in dust collector at manufacturing plan controlled by sprinkler system

Fire damaged a machine at an Altamont manufacturer on Monday.
Altamont firefighters were called to Irwin Telescopic, just west of the Effingham County Fairgrounds, at 12:20pm. Altamont Fire Chief Jon Becker said a dust collector in the south end of the building was the source of the fire. Apparently, a filter in the machine caught fire. A sprinkler system inside the machine activated, but the machine was still smoldering when firefighters arrived. Becker said there was smoke throughout the building, so personnel were evacuated until the building could be ventilated. Becker said the fire did an estimated $20,000 damage to the dust collector. He said there was no structural damage.  Altamont firefighters handled the call on their own, although Abbott EMS was there on standby and Altamont police checked in at the scene. Firefighters were on scene for about an hour.