Apr. 19—More than 100 firefighters from more than a dozen fire companies battled a fire Wednesday afternoon an aluminum foundry in northern Lancaster County.
Crews were called to Boose Aluminum Foundry Co. Inc. in the first block of North Reamstown Road in Reamstown just before noon after an employee called 911 to report an active fire.
Reamstown Fire Company Chief Scott Achey said that when firefighters arrived they encountered heavy fire and smoke in a section of the industrial building.
The fire was not easy to reach, Achey said, because it was in a section of the building only accessible via a narrow driveway. And driving down the driveway placed firetrucks dangerously close to the flames.
"We don't normally like to get the trucks that close to the fire," he said.
Achey said the logistical challenges meant it took some time for firefighters to get into a position where they could fight the fire, but once they did, the flames were extinguished fairly quickly. It is unclear when the fire was placed under control.
None of the about 150 employees of Boose Aluminum Foundry were injured, Achey said. There were also no injuries to firefighters.
The cause of the fire has not yet been determined, Achey said.
It appears to have started near a dust collection system, he said, and was fed by a gas line that was damaged by the flames. Both the gas and power to the building were shut off to allow firefighters to safely battle the blaze.
Achey said a damage estimate was not immediately available, but added there was extensive fire, smoke and water damage.
The state police fire marshal's office is investigating.