June 3, 2014
Firefighters from more than 15 different fire departments responded to the request for mutual aid from the Bremen Fire Department to battle an industrial fire on the city’s northeast side.
A 9-1-1 call was received in the Marshall County Dispatch Center at 1:37 p.m. following an explosion and ensuing fire at the Charleston Corporation at the corner on Dogwood and US6.
Bremen Police Chief Matt Hassel said he was at US 6 and 106 when he noticed some smoke in the sky. Thinking someone was burning he decided to check it out heading east on US6. As he passed the Charleston Corporation there was an explosion that actually rocked his SUV as he drove on the highway. Following the explosion a thick black smoke was seen coming from one of the buildings on the campus. Chief Hassel immediately went to facility to help evacuate the employees.
All twelve employees working in the building were able to get out although three were taken to the hospital for smoke inhalation.
Since the Charleston Corporation is in the country firefighters had to bring water to the scene. Tanker trucks were shuttling between the hydrants in Bremen and the fire along US 6. The highway was kept open during the fire with interruptions to drivers as tankers exited the fire scene and went to town to get water.
The Charleston Corporation is a provider of fiberglass and ABS plastic components for the RV and marine industry as well as the aftermarket vehicle and transportation parts. They have approximately 200 employees and indicated that the plant would be working today with no one missing work due to the fire.