9:14 p.m. UPDATE.: Bankrupt Plastech burns

By Justin Schneider and Brandi Watters

July 15, 2008 06:27 am

— ELWOOD — At least one-third of the Plastech Decorating Systems plant in Elwood was destroyed in an early morning fire Monday.
The plant, located at 11700 N. Indiana 37 and scheduled to close its doors due to bankruptcy on July 25, erupted in flames at 6:55 a.m.
The fire originated in the painting rooms of the plant and was contained to the eight booths where exterior plastic auto parts are spray painted by robotic machines.
According to plant manager Melinda Ford, about 30 employees were working in the paint area when the fire started, while another 50 to 60 workers occupied other sections of the plant. Ford said all 80 or so workers on staff were evacuated from the building safely.
Black smoke billowed from the plant in the early morning hours Monday, and could be seen up to five miles east of the fire, according to Pipe Creek Battalion Chief Myron Watson.
According to Todd Harmeson of the Madison County Emergency Management Agency, hazardous materials teams tested the air quality and determined it to be safe.
A team from the Indiana Department of Emergency Management arrived shortly after 10 a.m. to test the water run-off from the thousands of gallons of water poured on the fire. The water was determined to be safe and free from chemical contamination.
The fire was extinguished at 11 a.m., according to Harmeson, who also said that both Indiana 37 and County Road 750 West reopened after being closed off during the fire.
Plastech, which once boasted a work force of 286, announced May 15 that the plant was closing and has made weekly layoffs since the announcement.
The latest layoff wave occurred July 11 and another was scheduled for this Friday.
The final layoff is scheduled for July 25.
According to Jeff Schilling, a maintenance employee, the plant was finishing up one final contract with Ford before closing its doors.
Plastech employee Larry Jones, who lives just blocks from the plant, said he was scheduled to work at 8 a.m. and was going out for breakfast around 7:30 a.m. when he noticed the fire.
“I saw flames shooting out of the roof,” Jones said. “Someone said the fire started in three places. It’s a shame because now they’re going to have to pay to fix up the building.”
Jones wondered aloud whether he will ever work at the plant again.
Schilling said he was headed to the molding area of the plant just before 7 a.m. when a forklift operator shouted that there was a fire at the loading dock in the paint area.
Schilling and his co-workers raced to the area with fire extinguishers but quickly realized the fire was continuing to grow. He then used the loud speaker to evacuate the building. “I was just thankful that everyone got out safe,” Schilling, a nine-year employee of the plant, said on Monday afternoon.
According to Schilling, the chemicals used in the paint shop were always handled with care because of the fire threat they posed. “All it takes is a rag being wiped on a piece of plastic to start a fire due to static electricity.”
Schilling said a fire was started in the same paint area two years ago when a robotic machine sliced open a wire. The fire was quickly contained to just one paint booth and extinguished by the Elwood Fire Department, he said. “This was much more intense,” he said, peering up at the charred plant.
The cause of the fire is under investigation by officials from the Indiana State Fire Marshal’s office. On Monday afternoon, the investigators combed the plant and its exterior surroundings, but no details of the fire’s origin were available.
Marla Durham, a group leader at the plant, said work at the facility could be dangerous, but was something each employee accepted. “It’s dangerous, but that’s the chance you take.”
Though the plant closure was imminent, some were still emotional about the fire on Monday. Anita Wilson worked at the plant since 1989, when it was still called Paint and Assembly Corporation. Plastech bought the property in 1999.
“I was in tears,” Wilson said, recounting her early morning ordeal. “I have worked here for so long and I knew I was going to be leaving. When I pulled in this morning, as far as I was concerned, it was going to be business as usual.”

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