CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (AP) -- A flash fire injured five steel company workers, one of them seriously, as they used a cutting torch to dismantle a paint booth, officials said Friday.
Fire Department Battalion Chief Winston Shields said all five of the C&D Steel Erectors employees were taken to a hospital after the 8:30 a.m. fire.
EMS Deputy Chief John Combes said four of the employees suffered first- and second-degree burns but their injuries were not believed to be life-threatening. He said one employee suffered more serious injuries.
The names of the workers were not immediately available.
Shields said the blaze was extinguished by the time firefighters arrived at the building owned by S&M Properties.
Fire Capt. Craig Haney said the workers were cutting one of the last support beams and the booth collapsed in a cloud of paint dust that ignited.
Haney said the building has a sprinkler system and there was very little damage.
