Fire at Lima's Dana plant causes up to $750K in damage
Jan. 11—LIMA — A fire ripped through a building at the Dana Driveshaft Manufacturing plant on Tuesday morning, causing potentially up to $750,000 in damage.
Nobody was injured and there were no casualties, according to a Bath Township Fire Department press release.
"We believe it was most likely electrical or mechanical failure, but we need people who are experts to analyze and investigate," Bath Township Fire Department Chief Joseph Kitchen said, noting that Driveshaft officials had reached out to investigators Tuesday. "It did not appear to be suspicious."
Bath Township FD units responded to a 911 call from 777 Bible Road at 4:14 a.m. and witnessed "heavy smoke and fire" from a structure that houses machinery and the compressor system behind the main plant.
The exact monetary amount of damage was undisclosed Tuesday morning, but preliminary estimates were between $500,000 and $750,000.
According to the fire department, Dana Driveshaft Corp. management and security staff had evacuated all employees prior to the arrival of the firefighters, who were able to get the blaze under control within 15 minutes. Units from Bath Township, American Township and Lima fire departments remained for about two hours, however, to check the roof and ceiling.
"We were concerned the fire had gotten into the roof's decking, so we checked that out," Kitchen said. "All the guys did a great job."
The blaze occurred almost two weeks after Dana Driveshaft Manufacturing conducted a Dec. 30 land transfer to a Delaware limited liability company, DCLIOH001 LLC, according to a document from the Allen County Recorder's Office. The limited liability business was incorporated in October 2021. A mortgage document referenced Chicago-based Oak Street Real Estate Capital and Blue Owl. There was also a 20-year lease filed.
Officials from Dana's corporate office in Maumee and the Chicago companies haven't responded to messages left by The Lima News since Friday.
Reach James Luksic at 567-242-0399.
