Wednesday, March 11, 2015

MONTGOMERY FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHES FIRE AT STERIS CORPORATION PLANT LOCATED AT 2720 E. GUNTER PARK DRIVE, MONTGOMERY, ALABAMA







MARCH 10, 2015

MONTGOMERY, ALABAMA

One Montgomery business building is recovering after an early morning fire broke out Monday, according to fire officials.

Montgomery Fire units responded Monday morning to a large industrial plant that was on fire in Gunter Park Drive.

Upon arrival, MFD units found light smoke coming from the rear of the Steris plant located at 2720 E. Gunter Park Drive. Firefighters were able to gain entry, extinguish the fire and ventilated the structure. Units responded to the scene at 7:56 a.m.

Fire Sgt. O.J. Whiting said the fire originated in the duct work of a large metal grinding machine filter system. Smoke filled the work area and fire damage part of the duct work, but was confined to one area where the fire started.  No cause of the fire has been established.  Perhaps this was a dust fire from the failure to properly maintain the duct work.  Sparks from the metal grinding machine provided the spark to start the fire.

Employees of Steris were able to evacuate without injury. There was no injury to fire personnel.

Last month, MFD battled a chemical fire Feb. 18 in the same area of Gunter Park. Hazmat and firefighters responded to Thermalex to combat a fire involving zinc and magnesium using foam and dry powder. No one was injured in either incident.