By Mike O’Neal
Chattanooga Times Free Press (Tennessee)
Copyright 2006 Chattanooga Publishing Company
Firefighters responded to the Rock-Tenn Co. plant on Manufacturers Road about 2:40 p.m. Thursday after a series of fires spread throughout the building.
Workers welding on the second floor of the building said sparks ignited combustible material near some dryers at the paper recycling plant, according to Chattanooga Fire Department spokesman Bruce Garner. The building’s ventilation system spread sparks throughout the building, causing several small fires, he said.
“As soon as we thought the fire was out, we’d get a call about more smoke on the roof,” Mr. Garner said.
No serious injuries were reported, but paramedics treated five Rock-Tenn employees for smoke inhalation, and one firefighter suffered minor burns, he said.
A similar fire occurred at the plant in 1993 or 1994, according to Rock-Tenn human resources manager John Stagmaier.
Sprinkler heads were activated by the heat of the numerous small fires, fire officials said.
The fires occurred as the plant, which has 125 employees, was having a shift change, and workers gathered in parking lots while firefighters made certain the blazes were out.
Plant officials were preparing for cleanup of water and debris before firefighting equipment was stored and firefighters left the scene.
A decision about when the plant would resume operations will be made after an assessment of damage, Mr. Stagmaier said.
It had been a while since firefighters had to deal with an industrial fire spread by a ventilation system, Mr. Garner said.
“The big concern was that with the amount of flammable material on hand, the fire could restart,” he said.
No damage estimate was available.
Ernest Stringer, of Tylertown, Miss., said he was preparing to take his tractor-trailer rig filled with bales of cardboard to another recycle center in Louisiana when he saw fire trucks blocking his way.
“It all broke loose at once,” Mr. Stringer said. “Now I’ve got to wait until the hose is up before I can leave.”