A small fire earlier today at an automotive battery manufacturing plant in Spencer Township was caused by a malfunctioning air cleaning unit, authorities said.

Spencer Township fire Capt. Carl Arnold said there were no injuries. Six to eight people were briefly evacuated from the building section where the air cleaning unit is located, he said.

The fire occurred about 7:05 a.m. at the Johnson Controls Inc.’s plant at 10300 Industrial Rd. Area fire crews extinguished the blaze within 10 minutes, Captain Arnold said.

By 11 a.m., all of those evacuated had returned to the building, which remained operational, Captain Arnold said.

The fire was contained to the immediate area, according to the spokesman. The damage estimate was not available. 

First Published May 26, 2015, 11:37 a.m.