Machinery may have ignited a fire at Special Metals Corporation near the end of the regular work shift Monday.
At 4:04 p.m., the Dunkirk Fire Department responded to a report of a fire at the Special Metals plant, located on Willowbrook Avenue, in the city of Dunkirk. Lieutenant Gary Katta said the fire occurred in an oil reservoir located beneath plant machinery in the press room.
The temperature at which the machinery above the pit functions may have actually played a role in the fire, several fire department members suggested.
“We’ve had instances like this in the past, with grease,” Katta explained. “The heat generates a spark, or the heat may just cause a fire to start.”
According to a press release, fire crews encountered heavy black smoke and heavy fire upon arrival. Firefighters used a 1-3/4 inch line with foam and a 2-1/2 inch secondary line. They also used a ladder to reach the roof and improve ventilation.
Katta said the fire was extinguished about 30 minutes after arrival. Fire crews were on the scene about an hour and 20 minutes, according to the press release.
There were no injuries reported, and damage to the plant and its contents has yet to be determined.
“(There was) no structural damage to the building,” Katta said. “Right now the plant is evaluating the extent of the damage to the machinery.”
At present, the cause of the fire is still under investigation.
