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Firefighters fight blaze at Bellevue factory: Business closing after 40 years in city(Blade, The (Toledo, OH) Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) Nov. 23--BELLEVUE, Ohio -- A fire damaged the Progress Plastic Products factory in Bellevue Sunday, just days after an announcement that the plant would be shutting its doors. Investigators are scheduled to return to the factory at 420 Monroe St. today to examine the scene and conduct interviews. The blaze was reported at 3:49 a.m. There were no injuries, authorities said. Several area fire departments responded to the call, and firefighters remained on the scene for several hours. Traffic between Cherry Street and South Buckeye Street was diverted to keep motorists away from the scene, city police said. The State Fire Marshal's Office, is continuing its investigation along with the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and the local authorities. The origin and cause have not yet been determined, Shane Cartmill, spokesman for the State Fire Marshal's Office, said last night. On Sunday, investigators examined the scene and conducted interviews with first responders and employees, and today, he said, investigators will return to continue that process. Damage to the building was minimized because of the internal sprinkler system and the quick efforts of the fire department, Mr. Cartmill said. Progress makes plastic moldings and other products. Company officials could not be reached for comment. Russ Panas, economic development director of the Bellevue Development Corp., confirmed last night that the Bellevue facility is closing. He said it is his understanding that the plant, which manufactures plastic parts for washing machines, lost its contract with Whirlpool Corp. Progress, he said, has been in business in Bellevue for 40 years, and the firm has a plant in Tiffin. "I am not sure what the plans are for Tiffin," he said. The plant in Bellevue had about 50 workers. Its closing, he said, is a "sign of the times. The economy is taking bits and pieces." The closing was announced last week. According to its Web site, Progress was founded in 1969 by Claude Young and Richard Krauss. The firm started in a small garage and expanded to two modern injection-molding facilities with more than 300 employees at plants in Bellevue and Tiffin. In August, 1986, Progress opened an injection-molding operation in the former General Electric plant in Bellevue, according to the Web site. To see more of The Blade, or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to http://www.toledoblade.com. Copyright (c) 2008, The Blade, Toledo, Ohio Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services. For reprints, email [email protected], call 800-374-7985 or 847-635-6550, send a fax to 847-635-6968, or write to The Permissions Group Inc., 1247 Milwaukee Ave., Suite 303, Glenview, IL 60025, USA. |