UPDATE: 1:15 p.m. – A fire at Webster Manufacturing was brought under control around 1 p.m. Sunday, according to information at the scene.
Fire crews were suiting up and entering the building at various locations. The center portion of the building appeared to take the heaviest damage and much of the firefighting efforts appeared confined to the northern half of the structure.
Ted Wrona, president of the company, was at the scene as work to quell the blaze continued. Webster, located in east Winfield’s industrial park, has been operating locally since the late ’70s.
Wrona said from outside appearances, office areas and a welding and fabrication portion of the building took the most damage. Wrona was hopeful to get inside once the building was secured.
"I’d just like to get in there and assess the damage," he said. "I’m focused on that, obviously."
Webster employs about 70 people, a number of whom were at the scene watching from afar as firefighters worked. Workers who spoke with NewsCow said the business is closed on Sundays, so it’s highly unlikely anyone was in the building at the time of the blaze.
The business, like most these days, is heavily reliant on computer equipment in its day to day operations. With heavy smoke and water damage, it was unclear what could be salvaged of the company’s computer and server system, officials said.
The company produces burners for use in industrial settings.
An investigation into what caused the place will begin once the scene is secured.
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UPDATE: 12:45 p.m. – A major fire continues to burn at Webster Manufacturing Sunday. The fire is mostly contained to building’s northeast end.
Heavy smoke and water damage has been done to what appears to be the office portion of the building, according to an employee. It’s unclear what damage has been done in the south manufacturing areas.
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Firefighters have called for county-wide assistant to fight a fire at Webster Engineering and Manufacturing, a company at the Winfield Industrial Park.
Heavy smoke is pouring from the building and a number of fire crews had already arrived as of 11 a.m.
Check back for more as we know it.