Cause of Fire At Hutson Industries Still Under Investigation
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The following information is distributed from the City of Frisco's News
and Information service.
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CAUSE OF FIRE AT HUTSON INDUSTRIES STILL UNDER INVESTIGATION
(July 21, 2008 - 4:30 p.m.) The cause of yesterday's fire at Hutson
Industries is still unknown; however investigators have determined the
fire started in a room where microchips were manufactured. The room
housed several large tanks containing acid based solutions for the
production of semi conductor chips used in compact florescent lamps or
CFLs. The majority of the equipment in this room was damaged by direct
exposure to flames.
The fire traveled through confined attic spaces, damaging a great deal of
the building's structural supports. Because of the fire's intense heat,
the building's concrete, 'tilt wall' construction expanded causing stress
to the building's structural integrity.
As a result, the Frisco Fire Marshal's Office is requesting a structural
engineer examine the damaged building. A structural engineer will be
onsite later today or tomorrow, according to insurance company
representatives. Until then, the Fire Marshal's Office has declared the
building unsafe for anything other than emergency operations related to
extinguishing any 'flare ups'.
The Hutson manufacturing operation employed 45 people.
In a related matter, the Frisco firefighter transported for heat
exhaustion yesterday mid-afternoon was 'treated and released' and is doing
fine today. No other injuries are reported.
At approximately 8:36 yesterday morning, dispatch received a 9-1-1 call
from a passerby who noticed smoke coming from the building at 9201 Hutson
Dr., which is southeast of the intersection of Main Street and Preston
Road. When firefighters arrived, they found heavy fire and smoke and
suspect the fire had been smoldering for hours prior to being noticed. As
a precautionary measure, approximately 50 homes in the area were
evacuated. By 3:20 p.m., firefighters had the blaze under control and
cleared residents to return to their homes.
Frisco firefighters attacked the fire enlisting six engines and two aerial
ladder trucks. The department's Heavy Rescue vehicle was also used.
While Frisco firefighters fought the blaze, the firefighters with Plano,
McKinney, Little Elm, The Colony and Lewisville staffed Frisco Fire
Stations and/or staged nearby in order to respond to other emergency
calls, as needed.
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