An employee at Spinnaker Manufacturing in Tilton is being credited with knocking down an electrical fire that local authorities said could have resulted in much more extensive damage.
Just after midnight on Thursday, two second-shift employees preparing to exit the building saw smoke coming from an electrical panel. They were the only workers left at the facility at the time, according to Tilton-Northfield Fire and EMS.
One employee used an extinguisher to quell the small fire and then called 911. By the time first responders with the Tilton-Northfield and Franklin fire departments arrived at the scene, no fire or smoke was visible from the outside and the inside panel was no longer smouldering.
“It was fortunate the fire was discovered before the employees left for the night.
Had the circuit continued to burn, this could have resulted in a much larger fire,” said Tilton-Northfield Captain Matthew Gilman.
The single-story industrial building at 95 Business Park Drive houses Spinnaker Contract Manufacturing, Inc., a company that assembles printed circuit boards, cable and wire harnesses and other electronic hardware.
Authorities are alerting the public to the proper procedure for handling an electrical fire.
“If it is safe to do so, shut off the power to the source. Never use water, as it conducts electricity and can worsen the situation. Use a Class C (or ABC) fire extinguisher, and if the fire cannot be controlled, evacuate immediately and call 911,” said Chief Sean Valovanie.