Westside Beer-Can Plant Burns
Boiler Caught Fire, Burning Irritating
Chemical
POSTED: Wednesday, July 8, 2009
UPDATED: 6:42 pm EDT July 8, 2009
JACKSONVILLE,
Fla. -- Firefighters battled a blaze Wednesday afternoon when a boiler caught fire at a Westside plant that manufacturers
cans for Anheuser-Busch.
Jacksonville Fire-Rescue reported
heavy smoke and flames were visible when the first units arrived at the Metal Container Corporation at 1100 North Ellis Street.
A hazardous materials team was also dispatched to the fire.
Ellis Road between Fifth Street and
Commonwealth Avenue were closed while firefighters worked in the area.
Four surrounding businesses were
evacuated when rain kept smoke and vapor containing a chemical from the plant from dissipating quickly. The chemical -- biphenyl
ethane benzene -- is irritating, but not life-threatening.
"They told us we had to be careful
because of a fire with some chemicals in the air," said Taurus Kelsey, who works across the street from the plant.
While the fire was contained quickly,
the street remained closed at 5:30 p.m. as JFRD worked to combat any flare-ups.
News4Jax.com