Columbus firefighters battled a fire overnight that destroyed an important piece of equipment at Rightway Fasteners and led to the evacuation of the plant.

A fire alarm alerted firefighters at about 11:25 p.m. to the blaze on South International Drive and when they arrived they found thick smoke throughout the zinc plating building, says Capt. Mike Wilson, spokesman for the fire department. After fighting their way through the smoke, firefighters extinguished a fire in the electrical conduits of the zinc plating machine and the surrounding ventilation system.

Company officials said the machine was a total loss. It was due to be replaced next year.

The zinc plating for the plant will have to be shipped to Kentucky until the machine can be replaced, company officials told firefighters.

No one was injured.