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Posted on Sat, Nov 27, 2010 : 12:01 p.m.

Automotive Components Holdings plant in Saline closed today due to machine fire

By Art Aisner

The Automotive Components Holdings plant in Saline was evacuated and closed for the day due to machine fire this morning, officials said.

Saline firefighters responded to an alarm at the plant on East Michigan Avenue at about 9:30 a.m. and found heavy smoke inside the building, Fire Chief Craig Hoeft said.

The building’s sprinkler system contained the fire to the press area on the main floor, but there was significant smoke throughout the building.

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The Automotive Component Holdings plant in Saline was closed today after a machine fire.

File photo

The fire started inside a large press machine that malfunctioned, and the cause is accidental, Hoeft said.

Damage estimates were not immediately available.

ACH is an automotive supplier controlled by Ford Motor Co. and is one of the ex-Visteon locations still operating in Michigan.

Roughly 1,900 people work at the 1.6 million square foot facility, and several hundred people were inside when the fire started. Everyone evacuated the building, and no one was injured.

Hoeft said the plant was closed for the day, but maintenance crews were allowed back in to prepare for regular shifts tomorrow.

Pittsfield Township firefighters and Saline police officers assisted at the scene.

Art Aisner is a freelance writer for AnnArbor.com. Reach the news desk at news@annarbor.com or 734-623-2530.