Charleston Daily Mail
JACKSON COUNTY, W. Va. — No injuries were reported after a fire broke out at the Armstrong World Industries plant in Jackson County.
Emergency dispatchers received a report of the fire about 7:30 p.m. Wednesday. The plant, which is located in an industrial park near Ravenswood, suffered minor structural damage. Some equipment also received minor damage.
Armstrong World Industries is an international manufacturer of floor, ceiling and cabinet products. With a flooring manufacturing plant in Beverly, the company decided to open a second plant in Millwood near Ravenswood.
The plant, which employs about 45 people, produces a mineral wool fiber for ceiling tile products.
Firefighters from Ripley, Ravenswood, Cottageville and Silverton responded. They had the blaze under control by about 8:30 p.m., said Michael Morrison, fire chief at Cottageville Volunteer Fire Department.
The fire broke out when molten metal spilled from a furnace and onto the floor. The flames quickly spread over the floor and outside.
Workers were inside the plant at the time of the fire but none were hurt.
The plant’s manager did not make a statement Wednesday night, referring reporters to the company’s corporate offices. A message and email left late Wednesday with a corporate spokeswoman were not immediately returned.
The company invested $35 million in the plant in 2010, with a large amount of the funds lent by the state Economic Development Authority.
Workers broke ground on the 30,000-square-foot facility in October 2010 and finished the project earlier this year.
Copyright 2012 Charleston Newspapers