Fire breaks out at DanChem plant

A deputy driving past the DanChem Technologies Inc. plant saw flames coming from the roof of one of the build-ings.

The fire, reported shortly at 7 p.m. Monday, did little damage to the plant, said Mike Neal, chief of the Ringgold Volunteer Fire Depart-ment.

The fire emanated from the back of the No. 3 plant, with heavy smoke and flames visible to the first firefighters in the scene, Neal said.

However, the plant’s sprin-kler system doused the flames before the first fire truck arrived, Neal said. Six trucks responded from Ring-gold, Kentuck Volunteer Fire Department and the city of Danville’s fire department. About nine trucks and 25 firefighters responded to the scene.

Neal said the chemical methanol caused a flash fire. What sparked the blaze has yet to be determined.

“The fire itself went out with the sprinkler system,” Neal said. “We didn’t have to pump any water. It turned out pretty good. From the initial call, it turned out real good.”

Neal said the fire caused very little damage to the plant and plant officials are still investigating the cause.