Brought to you by WBIW News and Network Indiana
Last updated on Friday, August 31, 2012
(MITCHELL) - Fire and explosions damaged Fibertech off Ind. 60 West Thursday night.
Two loud explosions were heard just after 9 p.m.
Traffic was congested on State Road 60, as firefighters from four departments battled the blaze.
Volunteer firefighters from Marion Township, Huron, Shawswick and Mitchell battled the blaze. Officers from Lawrence County Sheriff's Department assisted with traffic control and TOPES was on the scene to support firefighters with beverages and food.
Fibertech makes wooden pallets and boxes used in storing and moving good and employs about 90 people.
Firefighters worked together to keep the fire from spreading to nearby large piles of wood chips and sawdust on the property.
The fire started in the western part of the building. Firefighters believe a piece of equipment malfunctioned causing an explosion that caught the building on fire.
Marion Volunteer Fire Department Chief Kyle Mundy says the fire started when a front-end loader caught on fire.
"It was in or near the building when it caught on fire and the fire caught the pole building on fire destroying it," Mundy says. "The front-end loader was used to take scrap wood to a mulcher outside of the building."
No firefighters were injured while battling the blaze.
This is the second fire at Fibertech in less then a year.
Fibertech was back in full-swing after a fire in October 2011 damaged the main manufacturing area of the plant.
1340 AM WBIW welcomes comments and suggestions by calling 812.277.1340 during normal business hours or by email at comments@wbiw.com
© Ad-Venture Media, Inc. All Rights Reserved.