COLUMBUS—A fire broke out at the Cummins Tech Center in Columbus on Monday, prompting a swift response from the Columbus Fire Department (CFD). The blaze occurred in the 1900 block of McKinley Avenue around 11:53 a.m.
According to a press release from the CFD, first responders were dispatched after receiving reports of flames inside the building. Upon arrival, firefighters noticed smoke from the tech center’s rooftop ventilation system. The building was already in the process of a full evacuation, which was underway when the fire department arrived.
Cummins employees and the Cummins Emergency Response Team directed firefighters to the area where the fire originated. It was determined that the blaze started in a test cell where a prototype truck with 100 gallons of fuel was being tested. Upon entering the test cell, firefighters encountered high heat and zero visibility but quickly located and extinguished the fire moments after entering the area.
Employees reported that the fire started while testing the prototype truck, which had substantial fuel on board. Thanks to the Cummins emergency response team, which quickly alerted security and initiated an evacuation of the building, the fire was contained to the test cell.
After the fire was extinguished, smoke and water damage were visible inside the test cell. However, no hazardous gases were detected during the incident. First responders deployed air monitoring meters to ensure the safety of the building’s occupants and confirmed that no harmful gases had leaked. Once this was verified, employees were cleared to re-enter the facility.
As of 4:23 p.m. on Monday, the full extent of the damage, including repair costs, was still unknown. Fortunately, no civilians or firefighters were injured in the incident. CFD units cleared the scene at 1:10 p.m., just over an hour after arrival.
The investigation into the cause of the fire and its impact on the tech center is ongoing.
