BIDDEFORD — The Biddeford Fire Department and crews from surrounding communities responded to a fire at Soleras Advanced Coatings on Landry Street in Biddeford on Thursday.

Biddeford Fire Chief Scott Gagne said at the scene that the exact cause of the fire had not been determined, but the blaze started in a container holding about 60 pounds of reactive lithium.

The fire was initially reported around 11:30 a.m. and the fire continued to burn as of 2 p.m., Gagne said, although he stressed the fire was contained.

“The spread of the fire we’re confident has stopped,” Gagne said. “We’re not worried about spread any longer.”

He also said the fire would continue to burn in the vessel, located in the center of the building, for several more hours. The building suffered only minor damage, Gagne said.

One of the company’s employees, who was transporting the chemical, was injured and taken to Southern Maine Health Care, Gagne said. The employee was not identified and the extent of the their injuries is unknown.

Lithium is highly reactive and, when exposed to water, releases flammable hydrogen. That reaction can have disastrous consequences, including explosion.

Such fires must be extinguished using dry materials, such as soda ash, Gagne said.

Crews from Saco, Kennebunk, Old Orchard Beach, York County Emergency Management and the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard were called to assist because the BFD didn’t have enough chemical extinguishers to combat the blaze on its own, Gagne said.

About 30 firefighters responded to the call, Gagne said, eight of whom were taken to SMHC for decontamination due to chemical exposure. He said about six or eight more firefighters would also be taken to the hospital for the same reason, which he said is protocol during chemical fires.

Soleras manufactures components for the development of thin film coatings, according to the company’s website. It is unknown how many employees were inside at the time the fire started, but Gagne said about three or four were outside when emergency crews first arrived.

Gagne said the building’s interior was fully engulfed with smoke, and smoke could be seen coming from beneath doorways.

First responders required full oxygen tanks to breathe, he said. And with temperatures barely reaching 30 degrees, and blustery winds blowing from all directions, the situation proved complicated for emergency crews.

“It’s a very difficult day with the product under the conditions,” Gagne said. “All-in-all the companies on the scene really did a good job.”

— Staff Writer Alan Bennett can be contacted at 282-1535, ext. 329 or abennett@journaltribune.com.