SCRANTON, Iowa — It took the crews of 15 fire trucks about four hours to extinguish a factory fire Monday night at Scranton Manufacturing, where damage was estimated at more than $1 million.
Greene County Sheriff and Jefferson Fire Department Chief Jack Williams described it as a “massive scene,” with the Scranton, Jefferson, Glidden and Carroll fire departments responding.
The fire was reported to the Greene County Sheriff’s office at 11:23 p.m.
Williams said the fire started in one of the factory’s three paint booths. An employee was painting when an electrostatic arc ignited the fire, which quickly fire spread to an area where paint and thinners were stored.
The west side of the building incurred substantial damage, with smoke, water and heat damage throughout the building.
The state fire marshal was called to investigate, but he declined because there was a witness to the fire igniting.
Employees began to return to work Wednesday morning, but smoke damage prevented a return to full operation pending clean up.
A company spokesperson said some business functions are temporarily relocated to other company facilities in Scranton and Carroll during the clean-up process. The company’s Carroll-based parts department and the Booneville, Mississippi, manufacturing facility are both fully operational.
“We are thankful that no one was injured during the incident,” said Mike McLaughlin, CEO of New Way Trucks, “and we are proud of our employee-family as they rally to get us back to full operation as quickly as possible.”
Video courtesy Sebourn Video Services and the Green County News Online.
