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SALEM -An early Saturday morning fire didn't injure anyone but devastated a machine shop in the industrial park causing $1 million or more in damage, according to a preliminary estimate.

Salem firefighters were on the scene of the Hazenstab Machine, Inc. building at 1575 Salem Parkway West at 6:24 a.m. The business was insured and is located in the farthest section of Phase II in the industrial park.

Police said there was smoke and flames coming from the roof of the 12,000 -square foot building when they arrived and firefighters observed a smoke plume while enroute and called in the rest of the department.

Perry Township and the Damascus fire departments provided mutual aid on the scene.

The fire was blowing out of a loading dock on the west side of the building and Salem firefighters "attacked and knocked if down" from there.

Smoke continued and firefighters cut a hole in a large garage door to gain entry and were confronted by "heavy black smoke" with heat blowing out.

No fire was visible but smoldering material was located and extinguished just inside the loading dock door and measures were taken to clear the smoke from the building.

A large oil-burning furnace and an oil spill were located inside the loading dock area after the smoke cleared. Firefighters said the furnace was defective and caused the fire.

There was heavy smoke and damage throughout the building with heavy structural damage to steel beams in the ceiling directly over the loading dock door.

Business owner Jim Hazenstab Jr. said four employees worked at the job shop which was equipped with dozens and dozens of ISO 9000 sub-contractor certified machines including CNCs that make high-tolerance parts for original equipment manufacturers suppliers and contractors from various companies.

He was preparing to call two laid-off employees back to work.

A former volunteer firefighter himself, Hazenstab heavily commended Salem firefighters for their judicious use of water in putting the fire out.

"These guys used only what they needed," he said.

"It was very minimal," he said, explaining that once you spray water on machine computers they're totally gone. "I'm extremely happy that they used very little water. I'm totally happy with them. They are professional." He added they were also very helpful and checked all the creeks for runoff.

"I'm extremely happy with the Salem Fire Department," he said.

Hazenstab said all the insulation was burned off the all the wiring but hoped to be operational again in two months.

He said it would cost about $2 million to replace all his equipment with new machinery.

The company, which has been located at the industrial park since 1999, also has secondary processing market that includes vibratory deburring, glass beading, anodizing, hard coating, brushing, mechanical finishing, painting and chromate plating.

Salem firefighters responded with six pieces of equipment including the ladder truck and 14 personnel. The Local Emergency Planning Commission was advised along with Ohio Edison to cut electric power to the building.

Firefighters said the oil infiltrated the shop catch basin and the creek was checked with no visible presence of oil. Saw dust was placed around the basin for any further oil leaks.

The fire was called in by an employee of Quality Trailer across the street.

Firefighters estimated to loss to the contents at $1 million and to the property at $100,000. The property was valued at $275,000.