October 25, 2001

PRESS RELEASE

To: Newsroom

For Immediate Release

Contact: Brian A. Crawford, Public Information Officer

Phone: 673-6652, cell: 455-2609, page: 675-2137

Fire in Steel Business Causes Scare

A fire in a near-downtown steel frame business caused some tense moments this afternoon as the entire building at 683 Montgomery at first glance looked like it might be on fire.

When firefighters arrived, the large two-story steel and metal building that housed Met-Bath, a PowerTech Propeller Company, was pouring heavy black and grey smoke.

Once firefighters were able to get inside, they found a wall of wooden pallets and some miscellaneous equipment on fire in the southwest corner of the business. Fire crews brought the fire under control at 1:05 a.m. Employees of the business said they believe that sparks from a plasma cutter used to separate steel may have gotten under the pallets causing the fire. The official cause is still being looked at by fire investigators. No injuries were reported.

Highland Fire Damages Apartment

A fire in an apartment attached to a highland duplex heavily damaged the structure this afternoon shortly after 2:00 p.m.

Fire Communication Officers received the first 911 call reporting the fire at 276 Dalzell Street at 2:07 p.m. Neighbors reported seeing sparks and then a ball of flames come up from the side of the vacant apartment. Tony Thomas, 32, who lives across the street from the home, said that she noticed a small fire at first and went in to call 911 but when she came back outside the entire apartment was on fire.

The apartment, which firefighters used Willis Avenue to reach, was attached to the main structure where the two apartments were. Only the front apartment of the structure was occupied at the time and the resident was not at home at the time of the fire. Firefighters were able to bring the fire under control at 2:25 p.m.

No injuries were reported. The damage to the apartment itself was heavy, with fire destroying almost the entire rear apartment portion of the dwelling. The fire is under investigation. ###