A fire at the U.S. Pipe plant in Downtown Lynchburg on Tuesday was caused by a ruptured hydraulic line, according to a Lynchburg spokeswoman, who said the hydraulic fluid caught fire.
A firefighter was taken to a hospital with minor injuries. Seamless Steel Tube
Firefighters responded to a report of a fire inside the plant on Adams Street at 2:48 p.m. Tuesday, according to Lynchburg Fire Chief Greg Wormser.
Lynchburg officials said in a news release Tuesday evening that the scene had been cleared and that plant was operational. There were no other reported injuries.
RELATED: Steam explosion at U.S. Pipe in Lynchburg sends multiple to hospital
The plant has a history of dangerous mishaps, one of which left a man dead.
Tuesday's fire comes more than a year after a steam explosion at U.S. Pipe left three employees in need of hospital treatment from burn injuries, according to officials at the time.
That February 2021 explosion happened as a result of a malfunction in the manufacturing process, officials said then.
RELATED: Police: Jesse Horsely trapped by scrap metal, pronounced dead at U.S. Pipe
In the summer of 2016, worker Jesse Horsely, 56, died in an industrial accident at the site, Lynchburg police said at the time.
Horsley had been trapped by falling scrap metal and was pronounced dead at the scene, police said.
ASTM A335 P11 Alloy Steel Pipe Horsley's autopsy showed he died of mechanical asphyxia. His manner of death was listed as accidental.