Fire caused significant disruption at the Rock-Tenn paper company Thursday afternoon.
The Chattanooga Fire Department received the alarm at 2:39 p.m. and responded with six fire companies to 701 Manufacturers Road.
A plant official told firefighters that workers were welding some equipment in the dryer section and sparks apparently ignited a fire. The workers tried to put the fire out themselves, but were unsuccessful and evacuated the building. Five of those workers suffered from smoke inhalation, and they were treated on the scene by paramedics with Hamilton County EMS. No one was transported to the hospital. One firefighter received relatively minor burns to the back of his neck, and was treated and released from one of the City of Chattanooga's CareHere! medical facilities.
Plant officials said the flames started by the welding were sucked up into the ventilation system. Captain Lisa Roberson with Quint 12 said the firefighters had to track down at least four different fires that popped up in other parts of the building.
All of the fires were put out quickly, and while some equipment and materials were damaged, the firefighters managed to minimize any fire-related structural damage. The sprinkler system also helped contain the fires until they were extinguished by the firefighters.
John Stagmaier, director of industrial relations with Rock-Tenn, said today's second shift had to be canceled because of the fire. He said a decision would be made later tonight or Friday as to when production would resume at the plant.
Rock-Tenn makes recycled cardboard and other paper products. It employs 125 employees.