Published: 1:52 PM - 02/17/11
Last updated: 1:55 PM - 02/17/11
GOSHEN - Hazardous materials officials gave the all-clear after examining a structure fire at Konica Minolta in Goshen where copy toner dust had caught fire.
The building’s 40 employees were evacuated from the building at 51 Hatfield Lane just after the fire began at about 11:15 a.m. Thursday.
Goshen Fire Chief Jeremy Cohen said workers, who were taking apart the factory’s manufacturing line, accidently ignited with a blow torch residual toner dust inside a pipe they were dismantling. Firefighters arrived to find only smoke at the scene, he said.
Cohen called in Orange County Hazmat officials, who examined the site and gave it an all-clear for any chemical hazards, he said.
A safety coordinator for the company said that the building ceased manufacturing print toner in December and that the factory now only packages and distributes the material imported from overseas.
John Sullivan
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