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.