S&W employee saves building from fire

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) - A 30-year employee of Smith & Wesson is being credited with putting out a fire at one of the gun manufacturer’s buildings Wednesday morning.

Captain Mike Richard of the Springfield Fire Department told 22News that the employee used a fire extinguisher to put out the fire, which started at Smith & Wesson Building R around 6:00 A.M. The building’s sprinkler system also activated.

Richard says the employee’s action saved the building. He also said that the employee had received training on the use of the extinguisher, which is very important.

According to a release sent to 22News by Paul Pluff, Director of Marketing Services for Smith & Wesson, the S&W Emergency Response Team got the fire out quickly and no one was hurt. Pluff says that members of team train alongside Springfield firefighters.

Building R serves as a finishing and plating area. It is a 24-hour operation where 50 people work. The building also contains several kinds of chemicals. Pluff told 22News that the damage from the fire was minimal.

Richard told 22News that the fire involved a fiberglass-reinforced tank that was holding nitric acid, but the tank was not the primary source of the fire.