Fire causes $1 million in damage at Columbia manufacturing plant

COLUMBIA —A fire at a Columbia manufacturing plant Sunday morning resulted in estimated damage of $1 million, according to a Columbia Fire Department news release.

At 8:19 a.m., fire crews arrived at Engineered Plastic Components Inc., located at 4000 Waco Road in northeast Columbia and found heavy smoke inside the building. .

At 8:28 a.m., however, firefighters called for a full response team that included five fire trucks, two chief officers and one ambulance, said Capt. Eric Hartman of the Fire Department.

An additional four fire trucks were dispatched to the scene at 8:42 a.m., according to the release.

Firefighters used thermal imaging cameras to pinpoint the fire, which an automatic sprinkler system had contained to a machine used to melt plastic, according to the release.

Firefighters were then able to extinguish the remaining flames, the release said.

“Crews were on the scene for several hours,” Hartman said. “The last truck left the scene at 1:28 this afternoon, but it did not take that long to put the fire out. I would say it was mostly under control within about 45 minutes or so.”

Hydraulic lines were damaged in the fire and resulted in a leakage of almost 200 gallons of hydraulic fluid, the release said. The cause of the fire is still under investigation.

There were no injuries.