SPARTA, Mich — Crews have cleared a structure fire that resulted in zero injuries at a business in Sparta.
It started around 9:30 p.m. at the former Federal-Mogul building at 200 Maple Street in Sparta.
The Sparta Fire Department put out the call for mutual aid and several other departments responded, including a hazmat team.
The crews were on scene for about four hours, before our 13 ON YOUR SIDE team at the scene saw them pack up and leave shortly before 1:30 a.m.
Kent County Central Dispatch confirmed to 13 ON YOUR SIDE that employees were in the building when it started, but all had evacuated before firefighters arrived on scene and no injuries are being reported.
Authorities say the fire started inside a mixing room with unknown chemicals in it. The hazmat team determined a shelter in place or evacuation order was not necessary, and that there was no danger to any residents in the area. It was also determined that chemicals did not reach any storm drains or waterways.
Police say residents may have noticed irritation and a foul odor from the smoke.
The building once was the home of a Federal-Mogul facility, but according to a letter to the state in 2021, Federal-Mogul ceased operations in June 2021.
In February 2023, wholesale chemical distributor Aalchem announced on its website it was expanding and recently invested in a new location in Sparta. The post included a picture of the Federal-Mogul building. The post says the building would be undergoing renovations and used for "bulk storage, blending and testing capabilities, technical lab and office space."
The company says it provides "a comprehensive portfolio of chemical products and detailed one-on-one customer service to meet the specific needs of each of its unique customers. We are strategically aligned with the world’s best chemical product suppliers to ensure that our core customer base quickly and efficiently receives the highest quality chemicals as needed in order to successfully operate their businesses."
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