VIDEO: An aluminum casting plant in Muskegon Heights is a total loss after a fire broke out early Tuesday morning.
Century Foundry, which is on West Hovey Avenue near Hume Avenue and Park Street, caught fire around 6 a.m. Tuesday. Responding crews found heavy smoke coming from the building. All employees had evacuated by the time crews arrived at the scene. Fire crews initially fought the fire from inside the building, but had to retreat due to the fire intensifying. Multiple agencies responded to help.
Muskegon Heights Fire Chief Christopher Dean said the fire presented more challenges than an average housefire.
"The facility itself, a larger facility requires more firefighters. In addition to require more firefighters, the complexity of it and the hazards, there's a lot more voltage and power that comes in (the plant) than a regular home," Dean said.