Jan. 26--Firefighters had to use a special compound to put out a fire that erupted at the Federal Mogul Friction Products plant Friday.
Orangeburg Department of Public Safety Capt. Mike Adams said emergency crews were called out around 9:25 a.m. to the Rowesville Road facility.
"When officers arrived on scene, they found all production employees had been evacuated from the building," Adams said. "There were several other employees on another side of the building who were fighting a magnesium fire in the production area of the building."
Authorities said several bins containing magnesium scraps had ignited. The cause is still under investigation.
The difficulty with magnesium is that it can reach temperatures up to 5,000 degrees Fahrenheit. Water has no positive effect on the combustible metal.
Assisted by the Orangeburg County Emergency Services and a specialist from Albemarle Corporation, firefighters used a special compound to bring the intense fire under control.
One firefighter was injured during the effort and was taken to the Regional Medical Center to be treated for non life-threatening injuries that were not burn related.
No employees are believed to have been hurt.
Contact the writer: [email protected] or 803-533-5516.
Copyright 2013 - The Times and Democrat, Orangeburg, S.C.
