On the morning of May 19, 2003 at approximately 0635hrs the Posen Fire Department received a call for a fire alarm sounding in a business. Further reports indicated a fire of unknown type or origin inside of the building.
First due companies arrived on the scene and found an approx. 200 x 200 brick plastic container recycling business with heavy smoke showing. As the first due engine company made entry into the building, a box alarm was requested by command.
Shortly after, an evacuation order was given, as the fire was now attacking the bow-string truss members of the building. Within 15 minutes of receiving the alarm the roof began to collapse and fire was impinging on containers on the exposure side 4, many containing various chemical residues including various flammables and corrosives.
A 2-11 alarm was requested as well as a Level 1 HAZMAT. Over a dozen agencies responded and approximately 60 firefighters extinguished the blaze in approximately 5 hours.
No chemicals were released into the atmosphere and no injuries were reported.
The fire was started by workers using a grinder that sent a spark into a container of cleaning solvent that quickly spread throughout the structure.
