22 Firefighters and 3 Fire Engines.....Fight Stubborn Dust Fire

A fire in the duct work/bag house at the South Plant, at ALCOA, Alcoa, Tennessee. was small, but it tied up 22 Alcoa firefighters twice late Sunday, June 17, 2012 and mid-day Monday, June 18, 2012.

Dust in the duct work caught fire and 22 firefighters with three engines were dispatched to the fire at 11:19 p.m. Sunday. They cleared the scene at 2:07 a.m. Monday.

Firemen were back at about 8 a.m. on a nonemergency basis to wash out pipes that ALCOA Inc. workers had removed, Alcoa Fire Deputy Chief said.

Apparently the fire smoldered and firemen were again called to the scene at 11:40 a.m. Monday. Again 22 firefighters and three engines responded. They cleared the scene at 2:19 p.m. Monday.

“It was just a small fire in the duct work. No equipment was damaged. It was just time consuming,” Alcoa Fire Deputy Chief said.

ALCOA workers pulled down the duct work and cleaned the area where the fire occurred.

The South Plant, where can reclamation is located, is off Hall Road and Bessemer Street.

Firefighters were rotated out on a steady basis to prevent health problems from the hot weather.