[Press Release] : FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Smoldering Fire Forces Evacuation at Gates Facility

[Press Releases]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Battalion Chief James Weaver
Duty PIO Pager 573-441-6608 (For Active Emergency Incidents - Leave detailed message)



Smoldering Fire Forces Evacuation at Gates Facility

COLUMBIA, MO (December 27, 2013) - At 1:26 p.m. on December 27, 2013 units from the Columbia Fire Department responded to a reported commercial structure fire at 3015 Lemone Industrial Boulevard, the Gates Power Transmission Materials Center.

Fire crews arrived on the scene of the large, 185,000 square foot commercial building at 1:31 p.m. and found no visible signs of smoke or fire. However, upon entering the building, firefighters encountered a significant amount of dark smoke in the textiles room of the facility. Firefighters discovered that a small amount of waste rubber from the manufacturing process had accidentally been heated to the point that it began smoldering. The heating was caused by a worker using an air-chisel to remove waste product that was stuck on the floor.

Facility employees attempted to extinguish the smoldering fire with fire extinguishers while calling 9-1-1. Firefighters arrived and, using a single hose line, extinguished the smoldering fire in about five minutes. The fire created a large volume of smoke and fire crews spent approximately two hours removing the smoke from the building. The manufacturing facility was on a scheduled maintenance shut-down so production was not affected.

During the incident the skeleton crew of approximately twenty-two employees evacuated the building. Damage to the manufacturing equipment involved is estimated to be less than $1000. Three fire engines, a ladder truck, rescue squad, and three support vehicles responded to the incident. 



This release has the following attachments:

http://www.gocolumbiamo.com/CMS/pressreleases/downloadfile.php?id=506



http://www.gocolumbiamo.com/CMS/pressreleases/downloadfile.php?id=507



http://www.gocolumbiamo.com/CMS/pressreleases/downloadfile.php?id=508



 -30- 

______________________________________________________

You have received this message because you subscribe to the City of Columbia's Web Mail service. To view linked material click on provided links or copy and paste them into your browser's address menu.
______________________________________________________

If you would like to stop receiving messages, modify list options, or subscribe to other lists visit the Web Mail section of our Web site and follow the instructions provided. 

http://www.gocolumbiamo.com/Web_Mail/
______________________________________________________

Archived press releases can be viewed online at:
http://www.gocolumbiamo.com/Public_Comm/Public_Information/Press_Releases/
______________________________________________________

If you would like to stop receiving messages, modify list options, or subscribe to other lists visit the Web Mail section of our Web site and follow the instructions provided. 

http://www.gocolumbiamo.com/Web_Mail/