A fire Friday morning at Keystone Automotive in the Brainerd Industrial Park - that kept an estimated 40 area firefighters at the scene for nearly five hours - caused between $75,000 to $100,000 in damages, said Brainerd Assistant Chief Kevin Stunek.
Stunek said everyone was able to evacuate the building safely with no injuries. He said the fire started in the northwest corner, in the attic in Building No. 4. Stunek said workers were working at a grinding machine in the area and a spark may have caused the fire. However, he said Friday afternoon that the cause is still under investigation.
Brainerd firefighters removed steel siding from the outside of Building No. 4 at Keystone Automotive. When firefighters arrived at the scene Friday morning, most of the fire was located in the attic of the building.
» Purchase reprints of this photo. Brainerd Dispatch/Steve Kohls
Stunek said when firefighters arrived flames were inside the attic and the fire was so intense firefighters had to fight the fire from the outside. Firefighters were working on containing the fire so it wouldn't spread to the rest of the building.
Richard Monson, plant manager of Keystone Automotive, said he believed the fire started in the grinding department where old auto bumpers are recycled. He said metal dust was a possible source of the fire. The business, located at 2110 S. 10th Street on the south edge of Brainerd, employs about 130 people, Monson said. Monson said there were probably 100 people at the plant at the time of fire.
The fire was reported at 7:27 a.m. and firefighters cleared the scene between 12-12:30 p.m.
The Brainerd Fire Department was assisted by fire departments from Nisswa, Crosby, Pillager, Pequot Lakes and Mission Township and Brainerd Police and ambulance personnel also were on the scene.
Brainerd firefighter Steve Shepherd was covered in foam while fighting a fire Friday morning at Keystone Automotive in the Brainerd Industrial Park, along with firefighters from Crosby and Pequot Lakes.
» Purchase reprints of this photo. Brainerd Dispatch/ Steve Kohls
JENNIFER STOCKINGER may be reached at jennifer.stockinger@brainerddispatch.com. or 855-5851.
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