Late night fire burns down industrial plant
CHERRY TWP — A fire at an industrial plant on Branchton Road had burned Thursday night and into Friday morning by the time responders arrived, according to Marion Township Volunteer Fire Company.
The Rosini Carbon plant produces various carbons for hot metals.
Assistant Fire Chief Joe Fitzgerald said that the building being made of steel is what saved it from being burned to the ground.
But the inside was not spared. Fitzgerald described the building, which was used as office and storage space, as “a total loss” and the second floor of the building crumbled into the first floor, leaving nothing untouched inside.
Fitzgerald said that the building's fire alarm wasn't working and nobody was around when the fire started.
It was only when workers started showing up Friday morning that emergency responders were informed. By the time Marion Fire Township Department, along with half a dozen other nearby fire departments, arrived the flames had mostly died down. The only flames left, Fitzgerald noted, were a few propane tanks surrounding the area.
Responders then “drowned” the building and notified the owners of the destruction. The value of the damage hasn't been assessed and Fitzgerald doesn't suspect any illegal activity led to the fire.
The plant is being run by Shamokin Carbons.
The state police are investigating.
An updated story will appear in the Butler Eagle.
