Firefighters arrived at the scene around 9 p.m. to find the plant in flames. Fire crews put out the fire quickly, but there was damage to the plant’s main production area and part of the lobby, according to news reports.
Gadsden’s fire chief, speaking to WBRC Fox 6, said investigators took samples from the building and are still search for an ignition source. Steve Contris, a co-owner of AVCO, told the news station that the plant would be shut down for 30 days or more, leaving 45 employees out of work until the damage is repaired.
