Fire investigators survey the damage to the outside of the Utz Snack facility loading bay in Westfield. (Photo by Peter Currier)
WESTFIELD- Westfield Fire Department and State Fire Marshal officials are investigating a fire that occurred early Friday morning at the Utz Snack facility on Root Road in Westfield.
The call came at 6:46 a.m. Friday when an alarm from the facility went out to Westfield Public Safety dispatchers. According to police officials, the fire was mostly contained within the loading dock of the Utz facility. Flames were shooting out of one of the loading bay doors. State and local fire officials determined that the fire started when a light fixture on the back of a tractor trailer got too close to the building and ignited the exterior of the loading dock, according to Westfield Fire Deputy Patrick Kane.
According to Jennifer Mieth, of the State Fire Marshall’s office, the fire prevention system in the facility limited the damage.
“The sprinklers kept the fire in check,” said Mieth, “the damage was minimal thanks to those sprinklers.”
The estimated cost of the damages is approximately $15,000.
