Owens Corning fire prompts large response

NEWARK - A commercial fire Sunday at Owens Corning, 400 Case Ave., prompted a large response from fire departments across the county.

Newark Fire Chief Patrick Connor said the fire was contained shortly after 1 p.m. Crews stayed on the scene during the afternoon to monitor the situation, but they had cleared the area as of Sunday evening, Connor said. Nine departments responded to the fire.

"The fire started in one of the factory's vent stacks. It spread to a few rooms and the roof of the same building, but it has been put down at this time," he said.

Weather was one factor so many stations were dispatched, Connor said, just to make sure no firefighters got overwhelmed by the heat. One firefighter was treated on scene for heat exhaustion.

The cause and extent of the fire is still being investigated, Connor said.