UTICA - A fire that caused $10 million in damage at an upstate New York brewery started accidentally when two employees working on a welding project inadvertently melted a plastic conveyor belt, fire officials said Tuesday.

Meanwhile, beer production resumed Tuesday at the F.X. Matt Brewing Co., just five days after the destructive fire.

Utica Fire Marshall Ray Beck said two brewery workers were welding machinery on the second floor of the brewery's bottling plant on Thursday when one of the workers first noticed flames.

The workers tried to put out the fire, but the flames soon spread beyond their control, Beck said.

Beck said investigators determined the fire started about 10 feet away from where the men were welding.