Evacuations ordered following fire at NC chemical plant
By WECT Staff Published: June 13, 2016, 1:32 pm Updated: June 13, 2016, 4:59 pm
ELIZABETHTOWN, N.C. (WECT) – Emergency crews are responding to reports of a fire following an explosion at Tiger Products’ chemical plant in Bladen County Monday morning.
According to Bradley Kinlaw, emergency services director for Bladen County, the fire was first reported around 9:30 a.m. at the plant, located in the 4200 block of US 701 in Elizabethtown.
Officials on scene said the fire started in a machine at the plant following an explosion. Crews have contained the fire but it is still burning.
A hazmat crew was called to the scene due to smoldering sulfur.
Kinlaw said evacuations were issued to homes a quarter mile down wind from the plant. No injuries have been reported so far.
Officials have closed US 701 between Elizabethtown and Clarkton in both directions while crews work to completely extinguish the fire.