Fire damages plastics plant in Lealman

LEALMAN -- An electric malfunction in a mold injection machine may have caused a fire at a plastics plant early this morning, according to fire officials.

The fire broke out about 2:20 a.m. as the machine inside the ALPS plastics plant began a routine warming cycle, said Lealman Fire District Capt. Larry Thompson.  Fire crews were able to extinguish the flames and heavy black smoke about 40 minutes later, Thompson said.

An official estimate of the damage to the plant, in the 2800 block of 42nd Avenue N, was not immediately available. No injuries were reported.

-- Casey Cora, Times staff writer