Dust Fire at Tennessee Pencil Factory Forces EvacuationDust Fire at Tennessee Pencil Factory Forces Evacuation

Workers were evacuated from a Sale Creek, TN pencil factory Monday morning after a machinery fire ignited saw dust, spreading spread flames and smoke into duct work and a dust collection silo, several local news organizations reported.

Responding to a fire call at the Wagner Pencil Company’s factory at about 8:20 a.m., firefighters discovered smoke and flames coming out of the site’s dust collection silo located on the rear exterior of the building. The Chattanoogan reported that the blaze was limited to the facility’s duct work and the silo.

Officials said a spark from a machine likely caught saw dust in the site’s ducts on fire.

The fire was extinguished quickly, causing minimal damages to the facility, the Chattanoogan said. No damage estimates were provided to local media.

15 firefighters responded to the incident, with several law enforcement and fire departments from neighboring communities providing back-up, Chattanooga, TN NBC News affiliate WRCB reported.

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