Indiana County printing plant fire cause $75M damage

INDIANA COUNTY, Pa. — A western Pennsylvania fire chief says last month's massive fire at a printing plant caused $75 million damage -- more than the combined damage caused by all other fires in his agency's 134-year history.

A state police fire marshal has been investigating the fire at Creps United Publications near Indiana, Pa. on Oct. 23. Smoke from the fire about 45 miles northeast of Pittsburgh was visible for miles.

Charles Kelly, chief of the Indiana Fire Association, tells the Indiana Gazette (http://bit.ly/Ubk0t7 ) that the fire destroyed the plant building and much of the material and equipment inside.

The company prints bulk inserts and brochures for newspapers and spent $9.5 million on a new press in 2001.

Solvents used to service the press and other equipment, and paper stock fueled the fire.

WPXI