Somerset — General Electric employees were able to return to work shortly after a fire at the local plant which appeared harrowing from the outside late Saturday night.According to the Somerset Fire Department, responders were called to the scene on University Drive around 10:20 p.m. Saturday night.

The fire was in the main factory wing of the plant, according to the Somerset Fire Department.

“There was heavy smoke showing from the building on arrival,” said SFD’s Roger Colyer, “and heavy fire showing from the building.”

Flames were visible from the roof of the building, which is where the GE plant operations manager Ron Dowell said the fire was located in a statement released to the Commonwealth Journal.

Firefighters entered the building and found employees attempting to extinguish the flames inside. From there, “it was a quick knockdown,” said Colyer. He reported that the damage to the facility was not severe, but most likely “moderate damage.”

Dowell said that “the fire was extinguished in minutes.” One minor injury occurred to an employee who slipped while leaving the building, he said (the identity was not released); other than that, there were no injuries during the fire.

Third-shift employees came to work and spent their time preparing the plant for start-up. By 7 a.m., Sunday, the plant was back to full production, said Dowell.

The outside fire that was visible from the roof was extinguished with use of a ladder truck, said Colyer, “and then we did the inside attack.”

Colyer reported that the plant did all the right things, including evacuating employees from the building in an efficient manner. “Everything went real well,” said Colyer.

There were 35 firefighter personnel on the scene, said Colyer, and seven engines. In addition to the Somerset Fire Department, assistance was received from the Science Hill, Parkers Mil, and Dabney Fire Departments, Somerset Police, and Somerset-Pulaski County EMS.

Firefighters were on the scene until about 11:40 p.m.

The plant manufactures glass products for lighting fixtures, specifically those used in vehicles.

The exact cause of the fire is under investigation, although the SFD stated Sunday that it may have to do with a press equipment malfunction.