CHARDON -- A fire alarm just after 8 a.m. Monday brought the Chardon Fire Department out to the Rein Chemie Corporation on Parker Court. When personnel arrived, they saw heavy smoke coming from the building but no fire. 

There had been a fire but Fire Chief Larry Gaspar said the substance that ignited the fire and produced the non-toxic smoke is a material that, when ignited, burns very rapidly and then burns itself out.

The fire did get hot enough to set the building's fire sprinkler system off.

Due to the size of the building, it took about two hours and the use of several heavy-duty fans to clear the smoke out, Gaspar said.

The building was turned back over to Rein Chemie personnel about 10:30 a.m.

The cause of the fire is still under investigation and damage estimates are not available at this time.

Mutual aid was also provided by the Munson, Hambden, Concord, Burton and Chester Township fire departments.