Several fire departments in the area responded
HUBBELL --
Part of M-26 in the Keweenaw had to be shut down for several hours Wednesday morning because of a fire at the Peninsula Copper Industries’ production plant in Hubbell.
Officials say the blaze was caused by sparks from a cutting torch, which was being used for maintenance work in the building's main production area.
Apparently the workers had their extinguishers nearby and did a good job fighting the flames until the first crews arrived.
Fire fighters from Hubbell, Tamarack City, Lake Linden, Bootjack, and Calumet Township all responded.
There were about 30 employees in the building when the fire began just before 10 am.
Everyone made it out safely.
Traffic had to be redirected for the rest of the morning after officials closed off a mile of the highway to make room for fire equipment and to create a safe perimeter around the building, which houses ammonia and carbon dioxide.
"The biggest complication was the double roof because the fire could move from one area and shoot right across so you had to chase it down to find out where it was," said Calumet Township Assistant Fire Chief Pat Boberg. "We breached the roof on both sides and were able to contain it."
The fire was out by 1 pm and the road reopened shortly after.
Even thought the roof sustained extensive damage, a P.C.I. representative said employees were back in the building Wednesday afternoon and in the process of cleaning up.
He said production should resume on Thursday.
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There is a building fire at Peninsula Copper Industries in Hubbell.
Several fire departments in the area responded to the scene at around 11 a.m. Wednesday.
Authorities have closed M-26 and are providing detours to reroute traffic.
Precautions are being taken due to the dangerous chemicals at PCI.
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