Fire breaks out at Keystone Automotive
Fifty firefighters in the Brainerd lakes area were fighting smoke and flames early Friday at Keystone Automotive in the Brainerd Industrial Park.
Brainerd Assistant Chief Kevin Stunek said no one was hurt in the fire that started in the northwest corner in the attic in Building No. 4. The fire was reported at 7:27 a.m. and Stunek said firefighters would most likely be at the scene most of the morning and early afternoon. The cause of the fire, as of 9:15 a.m., was still under investigation.
Stunek said when firefighters arrived flames were inside the attic and the fire was so intense that they had to fight the fire from the outside. Firefighters were working on containing the fire so it wouldn't spread to the rest of the building.
Brainerd firefighters battled a blaze Friday morning at Keystone Automotive in the Brainerd Industrial Park. No one was injured in the fire. Several area fire departments assisted the Brainerd department. Brainerd Dispatch/Mike O'Rourke
Richard Monson, plant manager of Keystone Automotive, said he believed the fire started in the grinding department where old auto bumpers are recycled. He said metal dust was a possible source of the fire. The business, located at 2110 S. 10th Street, employs about 130 people, Monson said. Monson said there were probably 100 people at the plant at the time of fire.
The Brainerd Fire Department was assisted by departments from Nisswa, Crosby, Pillager and Pequot Lakes. Ambulance personnel were also on the scene.
JENNIFER STOCKINGER may be reached at jennifer.stockinger@brainerddispath.com. or 855-5851. MIKE O'ROURKE may be reached at mike.orourke@brainerddispatch.com or 855-5860.