The Golder Ranch Fire District is investigating a three-alarm fire at Securaplane, an Oro Valley company that makes electronic security systems and video cameras for aircraft.
Chief John Sullivan, public information officer for Golder Ranch, said the fire started just after 9 a.m. Tuesday when employees were working on a battery in a building at 10800 N. Mavinee Drive. According to the company Web site, Securaplane distributes airplane batteries that are about the size of car batteries.
Sullivan said the battery caught fire, and the employees extinguished it, but it reignited. When employees couldn’t put the fire out, they evacuated the building, and the fire department was called.
The building covers about 12,000 square feet. Firefighters had the fire under control after about four hours and mopped up hot spots for several more hours.
Sullivan said the fire did not spread.
There is no damage estimate yet. Officials with Securaplane could not be reached for comment.
Because of heavy smoke from the fire, an advisory was sent for nearby residents, urging them to stay indoors and keep windows closed, especially if they suffered from respiratory problems. That advisory was lifted once the fire was controlled and the smoked was deemed nontoxic.
One employee suffered a minor injury but refused medical attention at the scene, Sullivan said. Nobody else was injured.