CRANBERRY, Pa.,None — Fire broke out at a cement factory in Butler County early Thursday morning.
The fire started at about 1:15 a.m. at the Thrower Cement Plant in Cranberry.
Officials said a driver on I-79 noticed the flames and called 911. No employees were in the factory at the time.
Firefighters believe the fire started in a cement mixing area in the back of the building. Channel 11 learned that diesel fuel is stored in that area.
It took firefighters around two hours to get the blaze under control. Fire crews were called back later Thursday morning to put out hot spots.
Thrower Cement has been family owned and operated for more than 60 years. John Thrower said he built the building with his own two hands.
"It took a lot. It's been up since 1976. You hate to see something like that happen," said Thrower. "We'll have to start all over."
Officials said the factory will have to shut down in order to rebuild.
"Business will be shut down for awhile until the insurance company guys come in here and take a look. The building behind, the 40x100 building where they have the mixing and stuff, is probably a complete loss, so they're gonna be shut down for a little while," said Cranberry Fire Chief Brian Kovac.
One firefighter was treated for smoke inhalation.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation.
Thrower said only one employee worked at the plant full time, but 30 to 40 trucks came through the cement plant on a daily basis. Thrower said he plans to reroute the trucks through two other plants he owns so no employees are out of work while they rebuild.
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