The Danville Fire Department was dispatched to 250 Celotex Dr. this morning at around 8:30 am for a reported outside fire threatening the manufacturing plant. On arrival fire could be seen in the finished goods storage yard and involved stock close to the building. The Ladder Apparatus was deployed with a heavy elevated stream to keep the fire in check until smaller hand lines could be used to assist in bringing the fire under control. The department responded with four Engines, one Ladder Apparatus, two Chief Officers and a Safety Officer. A total of 20 fire personnel were on the scene just over four hours getting the fire under control and making sure it had not extended into the structure. Plant personnel assisted with tow-motors to move the pallets of product so it could be extinguished. Once the building was deemed secure and out of danger the forces concentrated on the product and cleared it out from around the building. Plant personnel took over at this point and finished wetting down remaining smoldering product away from the building. The incident resulted in moderate damage to the product in the yard
Update: The cause of the fire at 250 Celotex Rd. was determined to be spontaneous combustion due to the heat required to cure the product and it being tightly packed.
Released By: Dallas R. Swiney, Battalion Chief