Northwest Pennsylvania Powdered Metal Factory Fire ‘Accidental’

A state police fire marshal says a fire that caused $350,000 damage to a northwestern Pennsylvania factory was accidental.

The Bradford Era reports the fire at CamCo Diversified in St. Marys started shortly before 9 p.m. Friday when ashes from a wood-burning stove were improperly stored in a cardboard barrel. The barrel caught fire and spread to a wall, causing a partial collapse of a roof and exterior wall.

The factory specializes in powdered metal secondary work and was closed when the fire occurred.

Owner Ron Berry calls the blaze a “minor setback” and says the factory was opening for business as usual on Monday.

Thirty-full time employees were returning to work at the plant located at the Stackpole Industrial Complex, about 100 miles northeast of Pittsburgh.