An “accidental” fire at Ray Nixon Power Plant prompted a brief evacuation of employees Wednesday but the generators were not shut down, Colorado Springs Utilities officials confirmed.

The fire was contained to a coal-handling facility in the far-west end of the property and did not damage the main building, utilities spokesman Steve Berry said.

“The fire sparked in the coal handling area and was put out very quickly by the plant’s suppression system,” Berry said.

Colorado Springs and Fountain fire crews arrived to find smoke and flames coming from the dust collector, where filters capture the dust from the coal before it’s taken to the main power plan, fire officials said.

About 40 firefighters attacked the blaze, which was reported about 9:50 a.m., with four engines, three fire trucks, heavy rescue and hazmat crews. Employees were evacuated for about a half an hour. The fire was declared under control around 11 a.m.

Colorado Springs Fire Captain Steven Oswald said in a news release that the fire never threatened the plant. Oswald said that the fire was accidental and likely caused by static electricity in a filter sock in one of the coal rooms.

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Crews responded to a fire Wednesday morning at the Ray Nixon Power Plant south of Fountain. (Courtesy Colorado Springs Fire Department)

Crews responded to a fire Wednesday morning at the Ray Nixon Power Plant south of Fountain. (Courtesy Colorado Springs Fire Department)

Crews responded to a fire Wednesday morning at the Ray Nixon Power Plant south of Fountain. (Courtesy Colorado Springs Fire Department)