More than 80 employees of the Omega-Arkay photographic " equipment company in Westminster were evacuated for nearly an hour yesterday after a stack of cardboard boxes caught fire.

Firefighters from Westminster, Reese and Pleasant Valley extinguished the fire, which was discovered about 1 p.m. in the paint room at the rear of the plant in the 100 block of Shaeffer Ave.

The company manufactures and distributes photography and darkroom equipment.

Several employees used fire extinguishers before firefighters arrived, a fire official said.

No one was reported injured.

The cause of the fire was under investigation by a deputy fire marshal yesterday.

The fire caused minor damage and was under control within minutes, the fire official said.

Rescue 9, a special rescue unit at the Reese fire station, was dispatched to provide fans to clear smoke from the 280-by-255-foot building after the fire was under control.

Employees were able to return to work about 2 p.m.