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Extreme heat and heavy smoke were the problems faced by firemen fighting a fire at Dalton Foundry, Warsaw, Tuesday evening.
"Heat and exhaustion were the biggest problems," said Warsaw Fire Chief Ken Shepherd, describing the situation facing more than 100 firemen who arrived at Dalton.
Firefighters responded to the call at Dalton at 4:34 p.m. Tuesday. Shepherd said Dalton's fire crews were already working at the blaze when city units arrived.
Shepherd said the fire apparently started in the basement molding area, when molten steel reportedly overflowed and caught a nearby conveyor belt on fire.
The rubber in the belt caused the heavy black smoke that filled the area, said Shepherd.
As many as 11 employees were treated by EMS crews and taken to Kosciusko Community Hospital. All were treated for minor smoke inhalation and related complaints and released, according to Shepherd.
Several female Dalton officials forced reporters away from the fire scene Tuesday evening and refused to comment.
An official from the Indiana Occupational Safety and Health Administration said a compliance officer was at Dalton Tuesday investigating a formal employee complaint of a hazardous working condition.
The examination of the foundry was finished when the fire started, but the IOSHA inspector came back to Dalton after the fire was reported.
John Jones with IOSHA said this morning that both the complaint and the fire are under investigation.
The Dalton employees were using fire extinguishers to try to put the fire out when Warsaw and Winona Lake units arrived.
Shepherd said the cooperation between the Dalton employees in the blazing area and firefighters made the difference.
"The Dalton people make it easy," Shepherd said. The company reportedly trains employees on how to handle a fire and how to work with firefighters. They also used floor plans to warn firefighters where danger spots may be.
Shepherd also praised the firefighters and EMS crews who responded to the scene.
"The EMS checked them (firefighters) every time one came out," Shepherd said. The firefighters were checked for signs of heat exhaustion and provided with water and ice brought by the Red Cross.
Although Warsaw and Winona Lake were joined by Pierceton and North Webster crews, other individual firemen came to the scene to help out.
Shepherd said firemen from as far away as Tippecanoe and Burket stopped in to relieve exhausted crews. North Webster also provided an air compressor to fill the air bottles used by Warsaw.
The employees were evacuated but many of them waited outside the building, watching firefighters in action.
Shepherd said the fire apparently spread from the basement up through the second floor of the building. Firefighters were able to contain the fire back to the basement within an hour.
Warsaw fire crews were called back to the building around 8:30 p.m. Tuesday to put out several hot spots on the roof.
Shepherd said there were no earlier indications the fire had spread that high, but hot tar from the roof was apparently smoldering in the ceiling.
Fire crews, along with Dalton employees, put holes in the roof to put out the hot spots, Shepherd said.
Initial reports indicate Dalton estimated the damage at $200,000 to $300,000.
The fire Tuesday brought back memories of the 1995 Dalton explosion that killed three workers.
This fire was not caused by nor resulted in an explosion, Shepherd said.
"There is no comparison whatsoever," said Shepherd.
IOSHA ordered Dalton to pay a $38,000 fine after the 1995 accident. After the incident IOSHA issued Dalton citations alleging 11 violations of safety standards.
Dalton also agreed to place $22,125 in a fund for families of the workers who were killed in that explosion.
