HOMER CITY, Pa. --
Nine fire crews were called to the scene of a fire at a business in Homer City, Indiana County early Wednesday morning, emergency dispatchers said.
The fire broke out at Non-Lethal Technologies in the 9000 block of Route 286 at about 12:30 a.m.
Non-Lethal Technologies burned on Wednesday in Indiana County.
Aultman Volunteer Fire Department Assistant Chief Clint Shaffer told Channel 4 Action News' Ari Hait that crews fought the fire for about two hours, but had to pull back after awhile because the fumes coming from the plant were affecting firefighters.
"It pushed us out of there because of the tear gas and the projectiles that they had in there. We didn't want nobody to get hurt," said Shaffer.
Hait also reported several explosions occurred inside the building during the fire, which burned for seven hours.
"It just looked like a normal building. We didn't see no smoke at all. Then all of a sudden, it started coming out of the roof vents," Shaffer said while still coughing from the fumes. "I didn't want to endanger any of the other firemen ... Excuse me. I got a little of the tear gas in my throat."
Fire crews decided to let the fire burn itself out before dousing the building to clear any hot spots.
The fire marshal and hazardous material crews were called to the scene to investigate.
According to its Web site, Non-Lethal Technologies is a manufacturer of several crowd management devices, including smoke grenades.
No injuries were reported in this fire, though some firefighters reported irritated eyes and throats from the fumes.
The fire was so hot, most of the building melted, Hait reported.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation.
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