Athens firefighters quickly overpowered a fire in an external trash compactor at Steelcase early Wednesday, but two employees were transported to Athens-Limestone Hospital for monitoring due to contact with smoke, officials said.

A spokeswoman for Steelcase’s corporate office in Grand Rapids, Michigan, said some smoke from the fire entered the building and two employees made contact with it.

“The fire was quickly addressed and no serious injuries occurred,” said Katie Woodruff, global audience communications manager for Steelcase. “However, two employees were transported to the hospital for monitoring out of an abundance of caution. Both employees are in stable condition.”

Fire Chief Bryan Thornton said Athens Fire & Rescue was called at 8:08 a.m. to the office furniture manufacturing plant at 214 Durham Drive.

“We started our full response to the plant — three engines and the tower (truck) — and when Engine 3, which was first on the scene, realized what it was, they canceled the other trucks,” Thornton said.

Engine 3 and Battalion 1 extinguished the blaze in the compactor, which is located outside the building behind the cafeteria, Thornton said.

“They got it out pretty quick,” he said. “It let a little smoke inside the building.”

Steelcase is working closely with the fire department as they investigate the cause of the fire, Woodruff said.

Production at the plant was not affected, she said.