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10:12 a.m. • 5-24-13

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Posted: February 13
Updated: February 14

Blaze does heavy damage to Selma car plant

No injuries reported in fire at Selma plant

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Selma, N.C. — Fire destroyed machinery and caused heavy damage to one side of a car plant in Selma on Wednesday, the Selma Fire Department said.

The fire started about 9:30 p.m. at Sona BLW Precision Forge at 500 Oak Tree Drive. Authorities said it likely started in a machine.

Crews brought the blaze under control in about 30 minutes, but the flames did an estimated $4 million in property damage to one corner of the plant.

"There is a lot of roof damage," Selma fire chief Phillip McDaniel said. "The machinery is very expensive and we know they lost at least two machines."

About 80 people were working in the plant when the fire started, but no injuries were reported. Sona employs about 300 people.

McDaniel said the fire department trains with employees at Sona at least once a year for fire safety, and he said all of the employees inside the plant Wednesday followed the evacuation plan.

No other information about the cause of the fire has been released.

Reporter: Tara Lynn
Photographer: Jamie Munden
Web Editors: Bridget Whelan, Derek Medlin

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11 Comments

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Latest Comments

I know someone who works there. It started in a heat treat oven and he was luckily by the bay door when it happened. They make gears for multi companies. They havent said if and when they would be going back to work. At least no one was seriously injured during the fire. I was happy to know how well the area's fire department responded to the blaze and how fast they got there. There were many gas lines in the building and it was lucky none blew up. Hopefully we will know soon when he can return to work.

drevell87
February 14, 2013 5:41 p.m.

Okay, wral.com - your headline says "car plant"; they don't manufacture cars there - they manufacture car parts. Then your url for this story says "blaze-erupts-at-selma-car-parts-store"; again, wrong - they manufacture car parts, they are not a "car parts store" like AutoZone.

ttipbc
February 14, 2013 12:15 p.m.

They will go to work this morning on fixing the plant-ordering new machinery,... All will be ok!!

baldchip
February 14, 2013 11:04 a.m.

I guess the unemployed at the plant only will get 12 weeks of benefits thanks to McCrory and the NC GOP.