Columbus firefighters battled an early morning industrial fire at Nikkei MC Aluminum America Inc. in bitterly cold temperatures Tuesday morning. Firefighters were sent to the manufacturing facility at 6875 Inwood Drive at 3:32 a.m. Tuesday morning. No injuries were reported. Nikkei MC Aluminum America, Inc. (NMAA) is a secondary aluminum manufacturer who supplies aluminum alloys to the die-casting and gravity-casting industries.
The fire was reported by an employee who saw flames within the facility and called 911, said Capt. Mike Wilson, Columbus Fire Department spokesman. When firefighters arrived, they found smoke and flames showing and were told all 10 employees inside the building had evacuated prior to the firefighters’ arrival.
Firefighters found heavy smoke and an activated sprinkler system which was working as they made their way into the interior of the smelting facility, Wilson said. They reported to the command that there were two fires in the facility, one located overhead as well as fire located at a dust collector on the exterior of the building, Wilson said.
As additional firefighting crews arrived on the scene, company representatives cautioned the firefighters about applying water to the smelting furnace and associated machinery. With two interior crews operating within the interior of the building, and fire visible above the sprinkler system, command ordered that the sprinkler system be turned off, Wilson said.
With the sprinkler system off, interior crews could see smoldering material located on several steel I-beams overhead. This material was a collection of dust and particulate matter that had ignited. MC Aluminum representatives told investigators that the flames were originally located near an afterburner furnace, which limits the amount of unburned pollution material being expelled into the atmosphere. Heat and flames spread to a collection of dust within the facility, causing several spot fires near the interior ceiling of the plant. A dust collector was also on fire, Wilson said.
Firefighters went to the roof of the facility and learned it was clear of fire.
At about 5:25 a.m., firefighters reported that the fire was under control, Wilson said.
With a few spot fires still located on the steel beams overhead, MC Aluminum maintenance crews used an articulating boom lift to access and extinguish the remaining smoldering materials.
Fire Command was terminated at approximately 5:47 a.m. and the facility was turned over to MC Aluminum, Wilson said.
A total of 13 Columbus Fire Department units responded to the fire, which included four engine companies and two rescue companies. The remaining seven units were command and support staff.
Wilson said no damage estimate was available and the fire has been ruled accidental.
