Owego, N.Y. — An employee was killed Thursday night in an electrical fire at Upstate Shredding in Owego, according to company owner Adam Weitsman.

Upstate Shredding is a large scrap processing and recycling company.

Around 5:51 p.m., firefighters went to 1 Recycle Drive for reports of a shredder on fire in the back of a building, according to Tioga County 911 dispatchers. Initial reports said two employees were trapped and unable to get out.

Around 9 p.m., Weitsman posted on Facebook that the fire started in the motor room and “took the life of a valued and beloved teammate.”

When firefighters arrived, they encountered heavy flames, zero visibility and extreme heat, according to the Campville Fire Department. Firefighters went inside to search for anyone trapped while working to knock down the fire.

One man was found inside and removed from the building, firefighters said. Emergency responders began life-saving efforts, but the man could not be saved.

Two firefighters were also taken to the hospital for evaluation, according to Campville firefighters.

Fire departments from Owego, Campville, South Side, and Newark Valley responded to the scene. First responders told people to use caution along Route 38 near the Tioga County Sheriff’s Office as firefighters remained on scene for several hours.

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