Two employees sustained non-life-threatening injuries in a machinery fire at a manufacturing facility on Stephens Road Thursday afternoon. The incident occurred at approximately 3:19 p.m. at Pioneer Metal Finishing, located in the 13251 block of Stephens Road.
Warren Fire Department officials reported that upon arrival, light grey smoke was visible emanating from the building. Employees outside the facility informed firefighters that an equipment coating machine had malfunctioned and ignited.
Fire crews discovered two employees attempting to exit the building with burns to their upper bodies. The injured workers stated they had been hurt while trying to extinguish the flames before emergency responders arrived.
Firefighters quickly brought the fire under control, confining the damage to a single piece of equipment. However, the building’s production floor and surrounding areas suffered smoke and water damage.
The first injured employee, a man, sustained second-degree burns to his left arm and shoulder. He was transported to St. John Macomb Hospital and is listed in stable condition. The second employee, also a man, suffered burns to both sides of his face and neck but did not experience airway complications. He was rushed to St. John Main Hospital in Detroit for treatment.
Officials confirmed that both employees are expected to remain hospitalized for an unspecified period as they continue to receive care.
No additional injuries were reported, and no firefighters or other company personnel were harmed during the incident.
The cause of the machinery malfunction is under investigation.
