A fire Tuesday morning struck a precision machine manufacturing plant in Fridley, sending a large column of black smoke skyward, authorities said.
The blaze began shortly after 8:30 at a Kurt Manufacturing facility in the 7500 block of Central Avenue, according to Assistant Fire Chief John Crelly.
The building was evacuated, and the fire was contained within an hour, said Kelli Watson, the company's vice president for human resources. Typically, there are about 60 employees in the building, but many had yet to arrive for work when the blaze began, Watson added. One employee was treated for smoke inhalation and did not require hospitalization, Crelly said.
The building houses the company's die cast division, which includes the pouring of molten aluminum, Watson said.
Crelly said the fire involved a material that has "the consistency of vegetable oil, which they use in their die cast process."
PAUL WALSH
