[RussiaToday] The US Army factory in Scranton, Pennsylvania that specializes in artillery ammunition caught fire on Monday afternoon, according to local media reports and eyewitnesses.
The Scranton Army Ammunition Plant started spewing black smoke shortly before 3pm local time. Local emergency services were summoned to deal with what was described as a “structure fire.”
No further details were available.
The Joint Munitions Command (JMC) facility is owned by the US military but operated by General Dynamics-Ordnance and Tactical Systems. It makes 155mm and 105mm artillery projectiles, 120mm mortar rounds, 203mm naval shells, as well as a variety of smoke, illumination and incendiary rounds.
The US has been trying to ramp up production of artillery ammunition to supply Ukraine for its conflict with Russia.
Scranton is a community of about 75,000 residents in northeastern Pennsylvania. It is the birthplace of US President Joe Biden. He is scheduled to visit the town on Tuesday.
Fire crews responded to the heat treat building at the facility in downtown Scranton around 3:20 p.m.
Firefighters quickly knocked down the flames shortly after arriving.
Officials say no one was injured, and all personnel have been accounted for.
There is no word yet on the severity of the damage caused by the fire or the impacts it will have on production within the 495,000-square-foot plant which is run by General Dynamics.
The cause of the fire is under investigation in Lackawanna County.
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