Ford Supplier Aluminum Plant Fire: Second Incident

New Fire Erupts at Novelis Aluminum Plant Supplying Ford

A fresh fire incident has occurred at the Novelis aluminum plant located in Oswego, New York. This facility is a key supplier of sheet metal utilized in the manufacturing of Ford trucks, notably the fully-electric F-150 Lightning.

Fire Details and Evacuation

The fire, classified as a four-alarm event, commenced on Thursday morning and continues to burn as of this report. According to a statement provided to TechCrunch by Novelis, all personnel present at the plant during the outbreak were successfully evacuated to safety.

While the fire is currently contained, firefighting crews remain on-site to ensure complete extinguishment. Initial reporting of the new blaze was carried out by CNY Central, a local news source.

Previous Incidents and Production Disruptions

The Novelis plant experienced a significant fire in September, which led to a complete halt in operations. Ford previously indicated that this disruption would likely result in approximately $2 billion in losses for the automaker.

Following a subsequent, smaller fire in October, Novelis had anticipated resuming production at the New York facility in December. The September fire also impacted production for Stellantis and Nissan, albeit to a lesser extent.

Impact on Ford F-150 Production

As a result of the September fire, Ford was compelled to reduce production across its entire range of F-150 trucks. The vehicles utilize aluminum body panels, a practice implemented several years ago.

Production gradually resumed in October, but prioritization was given to the gasoline and hybrid models over the F-150 Lightning. Discussions regarding the potential discontinuation of the electric model have reportedly taken place within Ford’s leadership.

Current Outlook and Response

The extent of the impact this new fire will have on Ford’s operational plans remains uncertain. Requests for comment directed to Ford have not yet received a response.

Similarly, the Oswego Fire Department has not yet provided a statement in response to inquiries.

This article has been updated to include recent information from Novelis.