March 17--Firefighters from 12 departments helped battle a fire at the former Staver Foundry in Virginia on Sunday, and crews remained on scene late into the night.
The Virginia Fire Department was dispatched at 2:41 p.m. Sunday to a fire at the foundry site on 10th Street South. Firefighters remained on the scene as of 8:45 p.m. Sunday, and Virginia Fire Capt. Kevin Poffs said it was likely they would remain there for at least several more hours.
Assisting the Virginia Fire Department at the defunct foundry were firefighters from Mountain Iron, Eveleth, Hibbing, the city of Biwabik, and the townships of Biwabik, Pike, Sandy, Britt, Fayal, Gilbert and Palo.
Poffs said the fire remained under investigation and its cause had not yet been determined as of Sunday night. With the scene still active, there was no immediate word on a damage estimate, or if anyone had been injured.
The foundry, a large complex on the city's southeast side, closed in bankruptcy in December 2006. It had been a staple in Virginia's economy for a century, making steam locomotive parts at first and then large parts of machinery for railroads and the mining industry as well as paper mills.
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