Oct. 30--Updated 8:41 a.m.
GREENSBORO -- Fire officials revealed static electricity or an electrical spark is to blame for the massive fire at D.H. Griffin last Friday.
Just prior to the fire being reported, an employee at D.H. Griffin's facility at 4716 Hilltop Road was using an energized magnet to move powdered metals to the pile of appliances that was involved in the fire, according to the fire department.
This caused a flash fire with the powdered metal, setting other materials on fire.
Clarence Hunter, chief deputy with the Greensboro Fire Department, said fires caused by static electricity or electrical sparks are rare.
"They're not frequent but it is possible," he said.
Because of the size of the blaze, officials are unable to determine exactly what caught fire at the facility at 4716 Hilltop Road.
Hunter said it has been several years since there has been a fire at D.H. Griffin, and there has never been a blaze the size of the one on Friday.
It was reported at 8:06 a.m. Friday, and burned for more than 12 hours. The black smoke from the blaze could be seen for miles. It took 65 firefighters to extinguish the fire, using 1.4 million gallons of water, as well as foam.
Larry Gillen, general counsel for D.H. Griffin, said the company is continuing to investigate the fire.
"It's unprecedented for us," he said. "Given the magnitude, it's difficult to investigate."
Gillen said the company sent some of the powdered metals to a lab to be tested, but would not elaborate as to what the metals would be tested for.
"We're looking for a wide variety of angles," he said.
He also said D.H. Griffin could change how it operates, based on the final conclusions of the company's investigation.
"It's within the realm of possibility, but we have to wait for the report to come back," Gillen said.
He was uncertain when the report would be concluded.
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Posted 7:04 a.m.
GREENSBORO -- The fire at D.H. Griffin last Friday was caused by static electricity or an electrical spark, according to the Greensboro Fire Department.
Just prior to the fire being reported, an employee at D.H. Griffin's facility at 4716 Hilltop Road was using an energized magnet to move powdered metals to the pile of appliances that was involved in the fire, according to the fire department. This caused a flash fire with the powdered metal, setting other materials on fire.
Because of the size of the blaze, officials are unable to determine exactly what caught fire.
The fire was reported at 8:06 a.m., and was under control by 9 p.m.
Firefighters used more than 1.4 million gallons of water on the fire, which blazed on a 50-foot high pile of scrap metal.
?Contact Sarah Newell Williamson at (336) 373-7076, and follow @snewell on Twitter.
Copyright 2013 - News & Record, Greensboro, N.C.
