Fire Consumes Industrial Building Near Doylestown

By Mark Abrams, Jim Melwert, Jenn Bernstein

BUCKINGHAM TOWNSHIP, Pa. (CBS) -- Firefighters are still hosing down hot spots left over from a multi-alarm blaze inside an industrial complex adjacent to the Doylestown Airport along Old Easton Road in Buckingham Township, Bucks County, just outside of Doylestown.

Dispatchers say they received the first call about a fire inside the 55,000 square-foot Arbonite complex about 5:30 a.m. By that point, the building was already heavily involved. The fire was placed under control by 7:45 a.m.

The company makes industrial chemical coatings and linings. Doylestown Fire Company spokesman Larry Brown says, obviously there are some increased concerns with this kind of fire.

"The Bucks County Hazardous Materials Team is on scene monitoring the air and has not found any problems with the air quality in the area," Brown explained.

There were some reports of explosions, but there was no need for any evacuations because there are no homes in the immediate vicinity.

Eyewitness News talked with the owner off camera. The building was one of several on the property. Operations in this one location were destroyed, including equipment, and raw rubber material.

He said all chemicals were properly stored. The company employs 25 people.

The owner also believes the fire may have started in the boiler room, but fire officials say they are still investigating what ignited the fire.

So far, no injuries have been reported.

Traffic is being detoured in the area and Route 313, Swamp Road, a major traffic artery in the area has been shut down because of the fire.