Pocono News Section

Fire Damages Former Chamberlain Manufacturing Plant

Fire Damages Former Chamberlain Manufacturing Plant - Sunday, March 2, 2008 at 9:36PM EST

Reported by: Eric Deabill
Sunday, Mar 2, 2008 @09:36pm EST
SCRANTON, LACKAWANNA COUNTY - Flames shot from the roof of the former Chamberlain Plant in downtown Scranton late Sunday afternoon.

Investigators say when they arrived just after 4:00 PM, there was heavy smoke and fire coming from a heat treatment building.

"The fire was up in the ceiling, closer to the roof and it was coming out of the roof when we arrived," fire chief Tom Davis said.

Several workers were inside the manufacturing plant at the time of the fire. They all got out safely. Firefighters say sprinklers inside the manufacturing plant went off, but didn't do much good, because the fire was so high up.

Investigators say the blaze most likely began in an exhaust fan and could have been a lot worse if the fire wasn't brought under control within minutes because the plant manufactures artillery for the military.

"If it went a little longer it could have threatened the weapons. We had the building isolated. The electrician shut off service in the building and we started to apply water and got everything under control," Chief Davis said.

Officials say no one was hurt in Sunday afternoon's blaze and two blocks around the plant were closed down while firefighters were on scene. City and federal investigators are expected to look into the blaze to make sure there is nothing suspicious.

Firefighters say most of the damage was contained to the ceiling part of the manufacturing plant.