The soot-collecting unit of Corning Glass Works in State College caught fire Saturday evening, causing minor damages. No one was injured.

The fire began at about 5:35 p.m, and was confined to the collector, said Alpha Assistant Fire Chief Tom Hand. Corning's fire brigade called in the Alpha Fire Company as a precaution, Hand said. Brigade members thought flames may have spread through ducts connected to the collector, Hand said.

When Alpha firefighters arrived about 5:45, the brigade had the fire under control. Hand said his crew stayed until 6:30 to check the area around the collector, making sure the fire had not spread.

Although damage was contained to the soot collector, Coming employees opened roof vents to clear smoke that had collected in the upper floors of the plant, Hand said.

The cause of the fire was still unknown yesterday afternoon, said Gene Proch, production and engineering manager for Corning, Dale Summit.

The unit that caught fire collects exhaust fumes from the glass making process, Proch said.

A fire brigade is on duty at Corning during each shift, Hand said. The brigade consists of employees who are trained in fire fighting techniques, Proch said.