One Bowling Green firefighter was injured fighting a blaze on the roof of a Bowling Green business Monday
morning. PHOTO
GALLERY
Fire crews started fighting the fire on the roof of an unfinished frame expansion under construction at
Vehtek Systems Inc., 2125 Wood Bridge Blvd., around 10:30 a.m. Vehtek is located in the business park
off Dunbridge Road on the northeast edge of the city.
The firefighter was reportedly injured while operating a firehose nozzle. The nozzle struck him in the
chin, causing a laceration. He went to Wood County Hospital and received four stitches. No other
injuries were reported.
According to the fire department, a call was received for a fire on the roof of the expansion. Formed
plastic roofing materials, still in pallets and awaiting installation, had caught fire.
As fire crews approached, they observed that two workers were still on the roof and approximately half of
the material was on fire. The workers were off the roof by the time crews arrived at the building.
"The only access that there was to the fire was by our aerial ladder," said Fire Chief Stephen
Meredith this morning of the expansion, which is estimated at four stories high.
"So that always provides another challenge. It’s not insurmountable, we can do it, it’s just
inconvenient."
Crews had the fire under control after 10 minutes of ladder pipe operation, and fought for three
additional hours in order to get to the heart of the blaze. The flames did not extend beyond the roof.

A total of eight apparatus and 33 firefighters responded.
Meredith said that Bowling Green fire investigators are looking into the cause of the blaze, but it is
believed to be accidental.
A representative of Poggemeyer Design Group, who evaluated the damage caused by the fire, was not
available for comment this morning.
A Vehtek employee said this morning that the company was not prepared to make any statements regarding
the incident or its effect on the construction.
"As you all saw, it was very minor," she said.
Vehtek, a stamping facility, is owned by Magna of Canada, which specializes in automotive parts.
The firm was working on an expansion that has the potential to add 300 employees to the present workforce
of 200.
To hear more on the Vehtek fire visit the Dave Horger Report for additional coverage. Click here!