- Novelis aluminum plant in New York suffered its third fire in months.
- Factory supplies 40 percent of aluminum sheets used by automakers.
- Ford may face new delays after estimating $1 billion in earlier losses.
For the third time in two months, a fire has erupted at the Novelis aluminum factory in Scriba, New York, renewing concern over one of the most crucial supply lines in the auto industry.
The facility, a key supplier of aluminum to several major automakers, including Ford that uses its material in the F-150, was first crippled by a major blaze on September 16, setting off a chain of production worries that have yet to ease.
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The latest fire broke out on Thursday morning at the same part of the plant where the September fire occurred. Fire crews quickly responded to the blaze and had it under control by 10:15 a.m. However, it wasn’t until roughly 4 p.m. that Novelis confirmed the blaze had been extinguished.
Local outlets report the fire began in the hot mill section before spreading to the roll shop, a critical part of the facility’s operations. Since September, Novelis had been running around the clock to repair damage from the first incident.
A smaller fire struck the site again on October 10, raising questions about the vulnerability of the plant’s systems and recovery timeline.
The full extent of the new damage remains unclear, but automakers are bracing for more disruption. The Scriba facility produces roughly 40 percent of all aluminum sheets used by car manufacturers in the United States.
Globally, Novelis controls around half the market for automotive aluminum sheets, giving this single plant an outsized role in vehicle production. Early estimates suggest it may remain offline until next month, prolonging uncertainty for its customers.
Ford has previously said that the shutdown after the September 16 blaze will likely cost it as much as $1 billion in projected earnings and forced factory closures in Tennessee and Michigan. The popular F-150 uses aluminum extensively in its construction to save weight.
A Novelis spokesperson told CNY Central that all workers were safely evacuated after Thursday’s fire. Safety remains the immediate priority, but each delay in reopening pushes automakers further into logistical and financial strain.
If the factory’s restart date slips again, Ford and other manufacturers could face yet another round of production slowdowns just as supply chains had begun to stabilize.
Update: Ford issued a joint statement with Novelis regarding the latest fire at the New York facility.
“The fire was swiftly contained and the plant was safely evacuated with no injuries to employees, contractors or first responders,” the companies said.
“As of this morning, the cold mill and heat treatment operations at the Novelis Oswego plant are back up and running. The facility continues to ship finished material to supply Ford. Novelis will continue to leverage alternate sources, including its global network of plants and industry peers, to mitigate impact.”
Novelis added that it remains committed to strengthening the US aluminum supply chain, including through a new facility in Bay Minette, Alabama, which will begin commissioning in the second half of 2026.
