Mount Airy Fire Company Calls in Units from Howard, Montgomery Counties for Metal Fire

The Mount Airy Volunteer Fire Company spent almost two hours fighting a metal fire in a commercial building Tuesday afternoon. 

Mount Airy Fire Company Public Information Officer Doug Alexander said that units were dispatched at 4:03 p.m. and arrived on scene at 4:11 p.m. 

Alex said that upon arrival, there was smoke coming from the rear of a metal fabrication business in the 1600 block of Back Acre Circle in Mount Airy.

The business owner flagged the firemen down and explained that powdered aluminum dust was on fire and if water was put on it, it would explode. Alexander said the firemen used special extinguishers for metal fires and slowed it down but could not extinguish the fire.

The fire went to two alarms at 4:43 p.m. "because our crews were wearing out due to the heat, we needed more people and extinguishers," Alexander said.

The fire was brought under control at 5:45 p.m. There were units on the scene from Carroll, Howard and Montgomery Counties. There were 31 pieces of apparatus and more than 75 personnel, according to Alexander.

The fire was contained to the sanding room Alexander said. He said the most significant damage was likely smoke damage, which was extensive throughout.

The Fire Marshall is on scene investigating the cause of the fire.