DICKSON, Tenn. -
Firefighters in Dickson had to use a chemical powder instead of water to put out a plant fire.
The fire broke out around 11:30 p.m. Wednesday at the Nemak plant located at 1635 Old Columbia Road in Dickson.
The plant makes aluminum components for vehicles, such as cylinders.
Firefighters told Nashville's News 2 when they arrived at the scene, heavy smoke and flames could be seen coming from the duct work of the building.
Officials said most of the fire was contained by workers but they had to use a special method to put the flames out.
"They use molten aluminum here at this plant, that's what made it so difficult to try to use water and why we didn't use water," Dickson Fire Department spokesperson Mike Goodman told Nashville's News 2. "We had to use a dry chemical type powder to extinguish it."
Goodman said the fire could have presented a dangerous situation.
"It is extremely volatile especially in the conditions that they use as far as molting the products that they make here, as far as the products that they make here," he explained. "One of the benefits is that we had the opportunity to come out here several times and we have pre-planned around the industry."
Crews evacuated about 100 workers inside.
No one was hurt and the workers were allowed back inside the building a short time later.
Fire officials will investigate the exact cause of the fire.
