Columbia insulation factory back in business after assessing fire hazards

Johnson Products on Paris Road is back to distributing insulation after temporarily stopping operations to fix equipment that may have caused several fires in a three month period.

Assistant Chief Brad Frazier with the Columbia Fire Department said the department spoke again with company representatives on Tuesday over the phone.

Frazier said in an email, “We’re satisfied Johnson Products has remedied any potential, futureissues.”

On Dec. 22, the department met with company representatives, including the executive vice president, in Columbia to discuss solutions to the continuing fires.

CFD gave Johnson Products 60 days two different machines that were determined to be the sources of four fires in less than three months.

The most recent fire happened on Dec. 21.

Frazier said the building had no other fire code violations and was equipped with a working sprinkler system.

While Johnson Products is back to distributing insulation, it’s unclear at this time if the facility is manufacturing products.

ABC 17 News made calls to both the Columbia branch as well as to its corporate office in Virginia and are waiting to hear back.