[Press Release] : Two-alarm fire damages northeast Columbia manufacturing plant

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 
Contact: Captain Eric Hartman - (573) 874-7644

Two-alarm fire damages northeast Columbia manufacturing plant 

COLUMBIA, MO (June 9, 2008) - Columbia firefighters were called at 8:14
a.m., on Sunday, June 8, to 4000 Waco Road, Engineered Plastic
Components, for a report of an automatic fire alarm system activation.

Fire crews arrived and found heavy smoke conditions inside the
building, prompting an immediate call for additional Columbia Fire
Department resources. Fire crews entered the building and began fire
suppression activities, and at 8:42 a.m., a second alarm assignment was
dispatched to the fire, bringing an additional four Columbia Fire
Department apparatus to the scene.

Firefighters used thermal imaging cameras to locate the fire, which was
being contained by two automatic sprinkler heads which had activated due
to the fire. The sprinkler system contained the fire until crews were
able to extinguish the remaining fire. The fire was contained to an
"injection molding machine." This machinery uses heat to melt pelletized
plastic into liquid form, and then molds it into dashboard assemblies
for General Motors and Mitsubishi vehicles.

The fire resulted in damaged hydraulic lines, causing some additional
fire and leakage of approximately 200 gallons of hydraulic fluid.
Columbia fire crews used hazardous material absorbent pads to contain
some of the fluid while an on-site containment reservoir contained the
majority of the remaining runoff.

There were no injuries and damage is currently estimated at $1
million.

Investigators from the Columbia Fire Department were on scene; however,
at this time the cause remains under investigation.

Ten Columbia Fire Department apparatus and 33 personnel responded to
the incident; this number includes some relief crews dispatched later
into the incident.

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