LEWISTON – A Sunday fire at the Philips Elmet lighting plant that forced the evacuation of 2,000 neighbors caused at least $800,000 in damage and no significant environmental harm.

Plant officials and fire investigators are trying to determine exactly how the fire started in a small building adjacent to the main facility at 1560 Lisbon St. Inspector Peter Morrell said it appears the fire started in the electrical control panel of some processing equipment.

“I’m still trying to find out what component failed, but with the extent of the damage, that might not be possible,” he said. He estimated it will cost between $800,000 and $1.5 million to repair the damage.

The fire began in a small building where a series of holding tanks are used to dissolve tungsten and bathe filaments. Tungsten is used in the coils that are manufactured into tube lighting. The main building is where the coils are wound.

The fire began around 5:30 p.m. Sunday evening and was extinguished about three hours later. No one was injured, nor were any chemicals released, according to a corporate spokesman.

“There was no environmental damage. I understand they evacuated 2,000 people from the area as a precaution,” said Steven Goldmacher of Philips Lighting, the parent company of Philips Elmet. “I think that’s a good thing, to err on the side of caution.”

Goldmacher said most of the damage seems to be from smoke, not fire. The building’s fire suppression system did work, which helped limit the damage.

The fire did not halt production at the plant where lighting components are manufactured, said Goldmacher. In fact, the first phase of repairs should be completed by the end of the week, with complete repairs made by Oct. 10.

“We have a lot of people working around the clock,” said Goldmacher.

Because of sufficient inventory and supplies, Philips is expected to fill all orders on time.

“Our customers should see no disruption,” he said.

Philips Elmet has been making tungsten and molybdenum products in Lewiston since 1929. It now employs more than 350 people and occupies 220,000 square feet of manufacturing space.

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