DETROIT -- The potential shortage of a key component used to make fuel lines and brake lines could force automakers in the U.S. and around the world to close car and truck plants as they run short of parts.

Auto industry executives have scheduled an unprecedented meeting on Tuesday in suburban Detroit to talk about the problem. Officials from as many as 10 automakers and dozens of parts supply companies are set to attend.

A March 31 explosion at Evonik Industries in western Germany killed two workers and damaged a factory that makes CDT. That chemical is a key component in a nylon resin called PA12, which is used to make a specialized plastic. The plastic is used in auto fuel lines and brake lines. It is also a component in solar cells, pipelines, sporting goods and household items.

Any auto plant closures that might result from the shortage would come at a crucial time for the industry. U.S. sales are the highest they have been in recent years as the industry recovers from the recession. March was the best month for the industry in nearly five years.

Automakers aren't pushing the panic button yet, but they are concerned.

PORT ANGELES — A Westport Shipyard building was briefly evacuated Wednesday morning because of a small chemical spill and fire.

Westport employees extinguished the fire and cleaned up the spill of chemicals used in making fiberglass at the shipyard at 337 Marine Drive, said Ken Dubuc, Port Angeles assistant fire chief and city fire marshal.

...At about 9:15 a.m., Westport employees noticed flames with smoke coming from a machine that mixes fiberglass resin with a catalyst, Fire Chief Dan ­McKeen said in a statement.

An employee activated a fire alarm, initiating an evacuation of the building, and trained Westport responders extinguished the fire with portable fire extinguishers, he said.

FIREFIGHTERS have left the scene of a chemical spill at a paint company’s premises.

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Suffolk Fire and Rescue Service sent nine appliances and 45 firefighters to PPG Industries UK Ltd based in Needham Road, Stowmarket, just after 2pm to deal with the solvent leak which was caused by a mechanical failure on the water cooling system in the resin plant.

The service’s group commander Ian Bowell said: “This incident has been contained on site thanks to the work of the on site staff at PPG and Suffolk Fire and Rescue Service.

“During the incident we worked closely with the Environment Agency and are pleased to say that all internal drainage systems have done their job containing any contaminated water on site for removal at a later date.

BIRMINGHAM (AP) — A Birmingham fire official says five students and one teacher were taken to the hospital as a precaution after odors from sewer work outside wafted into a high school.

Birmingham Fire Chief Mike Metz says a construction crew was working on a sewer outside Seaholm High School on Thursday afternoon, and the building's ventilation system sucked in some of the odor. Metz says the students and the teacher complained of feeling nauseous.

Metz says the crew was working for Oakland County relining sewers, and the smell came from a resin they were using.

The odor affected between 20 and 25 classrooms at the school, which has 1,350 students.

Milford, CT (WTNH) - Milford Fire Department is on the scene of a hazardous materials incident on Old Gate Lane.

Firefighters are at Secondi Brothers Truck Stop, 365 Old Gate Ln., assisting the Department of Energy & Environmental Protection and a private cleanup contractor with a chemical spill.

A box truck, at Secondi Truck Stop, carrying drums of resin, had atleast one drum leaking earlier tonight.

An environmental contractor, under DEEP supervision, is working to unload the cargo into another truck, while looking to identify and isolate any leaking drums.

Any leaking drums will be packed properly and taken away for proper sealing and disposal, as resin is potentially flammable if not handled properly.

NORTH LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (KTHV) -- North Little Rock firefighters put out a chemical fire Friday at a steel storage tank business.

It was at Hall Tank Company on East 5th street. Firefighters aren't sure how the fire started -- but say it was mostly paper and other materials burning.

Because there was some resin and tanks near by, they didn't take any chances, and used foam to get the fire out in about five minutes.

The Gates Fire District responded early Tuesday to a hazmat condition at Cryovac on Brooks Avenue.

The company has a 55 gallon drum of plastic resin that was overheating. The resin is kept at 110 degrees and when employees arrived to Cryovac Tuesday at 7:30 a.m., they noticed that smoke was coming out of the drum and pulled the fire alarm.

Gates fire chief Jim Harrington said the drum had brought the temperature to over 200 degrees. When the material inside overheats, a chemical reaction causes the material to increase in heat, Harrington said. Firefighters were worried the drum was going to over-pressurize and explode so they evacuated nearby employees and cooled the drum off with a fire hose.

Hundreds of people were affected by the incident at the 3M factory, on Standard Way Industrial Estate, in Northallerton, North Yorkshire.

It is understood the leak involved 600 litres of waterbased resin, which triggered an automatic fire alarm, resulting in a 400m exclusion zone being put in place.

A security guard was the only person inside the factory at the time. No one was injured.

...Emergency services said there was no danger to the public, although nearby residents were advised to stay indoors and keep windows closed.

Neighbouring businesses were also affected, with staff unable to get into their premises.

Inspector John Wilkinson, of North Yorkshire Police, said: “The chemical released was a mild irritant and there was no risk of harm.

“Thanks to the co-operation, understanding and patience of local people and businesses, we were able to bring the incident to a safe and swift conclusion.”

The Health and Safety Executive has been informed and is expected to investigate, while 3M will carry out its own investigation.

EL PASO, Texas -- Thirty fire units were called to El Paso's Lower Valley Friday afternoon.
About 3,000 gallons of the chemical carbolite resin was spilled.
A drum holding the chemical, most commonly used on auto parts and products, was tipped over at the Bosch Industries Warehouse in the 9600 block of Pan American Drive.
Deputy Chief Keith Burch of the El Paso Fire Department said, "The spill is not enlarging, so we're going to seal up the building and deny entry and now it will be up to the building owner to hire a contractor to come and clean it up."