Major economic impact

Posted October 9, 2025

A massive three-alarm fire at the Novelis aluminum plant in Scriba, near Oswego, New York, brought an extraordinary emergency response on the night of September 16, 2025. The blaze caused extensive damage to the plant’s hot mill area, where aluminum sheets for vehicles are produced, and led to a partial roof collapse. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.

Novelis, the third-largest employer in Oswego County with about 1,200 workers, supplies roughly 40% of the sheet aluminum used by the U.S. auto industry. Ford, its largest customer, may feel the effects most sharply; analysts estimate the disruption could reduce Ford’s earnings by as much as $1 billion and has already contributed to a drop in the company’s stock price.

All employees were safely evacuated, and no injuries were reported among plant personnel or first responders. Novelis is continuing to pay employees during the temporary shutdown, with limited operations already resumed. The company expects to bring the hot mill back online in early 2026.

Coordinated Emergency Response

Within two minutes of the initial alarm to the Oswego County E-911 Center, a mutual aid request brought an enormous regional response. In total, 26 fire departments and about 175 firefighters from Oswego and Onondaga counties responded to the scene, with additional crews providing station coverage.

Firefighters confronted a difficult and hazardous situation, battling the blaze amid a partial roof collapse and intense heat. Because of safety concerns, most firefighting was conducted from the exterior using ladder trucks and ground monitors to attack the fire from above. A tanker task force supplied the large volumes of water needed to suppress the flames.

Crews worked through the night, finally extinguishing the fire around 5 a.m. Some units remained on-site for several hours to monitor for hot spots. Oswego County Fire Coordinator Shane Laws described the response as “very well run overall,” commending the efficiency and coordination among departments.

Recognition and Gratitude

In the days following the fire, Novelis and community leaders publicly thanked the first responders for their swift and professional actions.

• Novelis expressed “extreme gratitude” to those who acted quickly to protect lives and property, later reaffirming appreciation for the widespread support received.
• U.S. Congresswoman Claudia Tenney posted on Facebook, thanking the firefighters and first responders “who acted quickly to protect lives and contain the blaze.”
• Community organizations, including the Oswego Elks Lodge, voiced their thanks for the responders’ “unwavering dedication.”

Despite the severe damage and economic impact, the coordinated efforts of local and regional firefighters prevented an even greater disaster.