Manufacturing, Manufacturing Plant

Waco, TX – Sprinkler system extinguishes fire at manufacturing plant

Firefighters were battling a fire Monday evening at the Hobbs Bonded Fibers plant at 200 Commerce St. in Waco.

A passing Waco fire crew spotted smoke coming from the plant Monday evening and notified the Waco Fire Department’s dispatcher.

About a half-dozen units were dispatched to the plant, which had been evacuated.

An employee said it appears the plant’s sprinkler system extinguished the fire before the crews arrived, but firefighters later spotted flames.

Just before 7 p.m., firefighters were looking for hot spots concentrated in the ceiling.

The cause of the fire hasn’t been determined.

The plant produces a range of products ranging from filters to health care products to industrial apparel to carpet and rug backings to Nomex and Kevlar products, quilt batting, fiberfill and pillow forms.

Firefighters were dealing not only with the fire, but also record-high temperatures.