An explosion and black smoke from a chemical reaction inside an Orotex Corp. machine resulted in emergency calls to the Novi Fire Department Thursday night. 

Fire Chief Jeffery Johnson said the calls came in soon after 8 p.m. One caller said they saw flames. 

Firefighters arrived to evacuate the 33 employees inside the Venture Drive building and consulted onsite members of the Western Wayne County Hazardous Materials Response Team. 

Fans ventilated the building, and a sprinkler system extinguished the machine fire. 

Johnson said the business may have suffered the same problem with the same machine several years ago. 

“We want to do everything possible so it doesn’t happen again,” said Johnson, who plans to have the city’s fire marshal working with Orotex Corp. in the weeks ahead. 

Orotex is considered an automotive supplier of rubber vibration reduction materials and soundproofing products. The building is located north of Nine Mile Road between Novi and Meadowbrook roads.

Company officials could not be immediately reached for comment. 

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Contact reporter Susan Vela at svela@hometownlife.com or 248-303-8432. Follow her on Twitter @susanvela.