An overloaded conveyor belt started a two-alarm fire that burned for more than an hour Monday night at the LafargeHolcim cement plant near Hagerstown, Maryland, reports the Herald Mail.
More than a dozen fire companies responded the fire, reported at 11:26pm but contained to a building near the center of the plant, according to Adam Hopkins, deputy chief of the Longmeadow Volunteer Fire Co.
He said firefighters couldn't attack the blaze at first because they were concerned that hot dust reaching temperatures of 600 degrees would burn through their turnout gear.
The plant's hydrant could not meet demand for water, so firefighters used six tanker trucks to haul in water to battle the blaze, Hopkins said.
Firefighters used saws to cut away steel to get to the fire, and poured water on the flames from truck ladders. Hopkins said the last units cleared the scene at 2:43am.
