Fire damages Avery Dennison plant

A late night fire on Oct. 20 caused significant damage to the 60,000 square foot building.

A late-night fire caused significant damage at an Aver y Dennison plant in Painesville on Oct. 19.

Pain es ville city firefighters responded to the 60,000-square-foot building on Chester Street at 11:28 p.m. For a reported fire. When crews arrived, they found the fire had extended to the roof, said Painesville City Fire Chief Mark Mlachak.

The plant was evacuated, but one employee was taken to Tri Point Medical Center in Concord Township for possible smoke inhalation.

The injury is not believed to be life threatening, Mlachak said.

While the specific cause of the fire remains under investigation, the chief said that paper in a machine appears to have ignited, and the f ire then extended through the machine up to the roof.

The fire was ruled under control at 1:03 a.m.

No hazardous chemicals were involved in the fire. As Mlachak explained, at the plant glue is applied to paper.

Mutual aid was called and assistance was provided at the scene by 13 additional fire departments — Concord, Fairport Harbor, Painesville Township, Perry, Madison, Mentor, Wickliffe, Kirtland, Grand River, Eastlake, Hambden, Chardon and Leroy.

A monetary damage estimate was not yet available on t he morning of Oct. 20. Extensive damage was done to the roof, but it should be able to be repaired, Mlachak said.

The plant is set back from any public roads, so traffic was not affected during the fire. Crews cleared the scene at about 2:30 a.m.