ROBERTSDALE, Alabama -- No one was injured and only minor damage reported when a small electrical fire broke out at the Gulf Coast Newspapers plant in Robertsdale early Friday afternoon.

Volunteers from the Robertsdale and Silverhill fire departments responded around 1 p.m. when a heating element shorted out causing a small electrical fire in the camera room area of the building.

“I appreciate the fast thinking of our staff, including Ken Hilton, William Moore and Linda Underwood, who were able to contain the fire before firefighters arrived,” said GCN Publisher Sudie Gambrell.

Smoke filled the camera area, press area and mailroom of the building, but did not spread to the front office area. Employees on site were able to contain the fire within 10 minutes and fire officials had the scene secure within a half-hour, said Gambrell.

“I was very impressed with the quick response and helpfulness of the fire departments,” Gambrell said.

Gulf Coast Newspapers publishes five newspapers twice weekly in Baldwin County, including The Independent in Robertsdale, the Baldwin Times in Bay Minette, the Foley Onlooker, The Islander in Gulf Shores and The Courier in Fairhope.