LAPORTE | A LaPorte factory was evacuated Friday due to a fire that nearly reached the company's production area.

The blaze heavily damaged a three-story section of LaPorte Industries used for storage.

"We had flames showing up all the way to the third story," LaPorte Fire Chief Rob Sabie said.

A portion of the structure on fire collapsed. Firefighters on two aerial trucks had difficulty reaching the blaze due to railroad tracks and lack of a road that restricted access to the burning end of the plant.

Firefighters were successful in keeping the flames from spreading to the adjacent production area of the plant.

"If it gets into that part, we're going to be in big trouble. It's very serious," Sabie said.

All of the workers on the first shift were safely evacuated as heavy clouds of gray smoke billowed into the air, said Robert Dreyer, a spokesman for the company.

"Everyone is accounted for," Dreyer said.

The plant -- with 92 employees -- is closed on weekends.

LaPorte Industries manufactures residential and industrial air filtration systems.

Sabie said it appears the fire started in the many boxes in storage used for shipping products.

A lot of work remained in digging out the still smoldering boxes and putting out the hot spots.