Firefighters spent about seven hours Sunday responding to a fire at the PC Plating Co. building in the West Lark Industrial Park in unincorporated Fenton, said High Ridge Fire Chief Mike Arnhart.
No one was injured, but there was extensive damage to the building, which contained hazardous chemicals, he said.
The High Ridge Fire Protection District received a call at 4:58 a.m. about the smell of smoke near the industrial park, and firefighters responded with a pumper and personnel to check the area.
They found that the PC Plating Co. building in the 1300 block of West Lark Industrial Drive was on fire, Arnhart said.
“The fire had been burning for an extended period of time, and had used all the oxygen and burned itself out,” he said.
There were, however, small fires burning in different areas of the building, and chemicals were involved in the fire, so in addition to the Fenton Fire Protection District, the Jefferson County Hazmat Team was called to assist with the fire, Arnhart said.
PC Plating does metal plating, painting and powder coating as well as produce zinc and aluminum die cast parts.
Because the fire was a commercial one and small fires were located throughout the building, the sate fire marshal and Jefferson County fire investigator were notified, Arnhart said.
“Originally, we thought it might be a suspicious fire, but it was determined accidental, although no specific cause was found,” he said.
Since hazardous materials were involved, firefighters were on the scene for about seven hours, Arnhart said.
“Firefighters and investigators had to be decontaminated,” Arnhart said. “The hazardous materials were a big challenge, but our personnel are trained and were able to assist the hazmat team.”