AUBURN — Firefighters responded Monday afternoon to a fire at the Formed Fiber Technologies plant off Washington Street.

The call came in at about 2 p.m., reporting flames and smoke shooting from the roof. Firefighters knocked down the flames with two hoses trained on the roof. 

The fire started in one of the processing machines near the front of the building, fire Chief Frank Roma said. The blaze was initially contained to that machine when an automatic fire sprinkler system activated.

The roof area over the machine also caught fire and smoldered until firefighters hosed it down, Roma said.

All workers left the building before firefighters arrived.

“This is exactly what should have been done,” Roma said. 

Several Auburn fire engines and other emergency vehicles also responded.

Formerly known as Gates Formed Fiber, the plant is at 125 Allied Road, off Washington Street, a short distance from the turnpike exit. The company is North America’s largest manufacturer of needlepunched nonwoven fabrics and polyester staple fibers, according to its website.