Dust Filter Fire Forces Evacuation of Auto Parts Plant

A fire broke out Wednesday evening in a dust collector filter at an automotive parts manufacturing plant in Troy, MI, prompting the evacuation of workers on site as firefighters doused the blaze, several local news organizations reported.

Fire crews found the flames were contained to a 30-ft-tall dust collector installed on the American MSC Inc. building’s exterior, partially dismantling the equipment to provide entry to the burning filter.

Damage was contained to the exterior dust collector and no injuries were reported, officials told the Troy Times.

“The cause of the fire is under investigation so we can determine the cause and prevent recurrences,” the assistant shief of the Troy Fire Department, Chuck Riesterer, told the newspaper.

On June 2 firefighters were called to the same facility to extinguish another fire that broke out in the facility’s dust collector.

American MSC Inc., a subsidiary of Japanese firm Murata Spring Co., manufactures automobile and heavy duty truck clutches and torque converters and car transmissions. Products made at the Troy facility are sold to customers like LuK Incorporated, Eaton Corporation, General Motors, and ZF Sachs, according to the firm’s website. About 180 workers were employed by the company as of Sept. 2015.

For more articles, news, and equipment reviews, visit our Equipment Zones