DELEON SPRINGS IN VOLUSIA COUNTY, FLORIDA FIRE BURNS DOWN 3 STORAGE BUILDINGS AT A PLANT WHERE DECORATIVE WOOD CHIPS AND MOSS ARE PACKAGED AND SHIPPED

DELEON SPRINGS IN VOLUSIA COUNTY, FLORIDA FIRE BURNS DOWN 3 STORAGE BUILDINGS AT A PLANT WHERE DECORATIVE WOOD CHIPS AND MOSS ARE PACKAGED AND SHIPPED

DELEON SPRINGS — A fire early Friday destroyed three storage buildings at a plant where decorative wood chips and moss are packaged and shipped, a Volusia County Fire Services official said.

The blaze was reported at 3:49 a.m. and firefighters arrived at 5220 State Road 11 to find all three structures in flames, Volusia Fire Services Division Chief Paul Ebanks said.

Firefighters spent all morning and all day Friday fighting the fire. By Friday afternoon, firefighters were still on scene putting out hot spots, Ebanks said.

Firefighters expected to be there until late Friday night to ensure there are no flareups, Ebanks said.

The facilities of Quality Growers were used to dry wood chips that are dyed or colored with food coloring and then shipped to businesses, fire officials said.

Because of the nature of the operation, the buildings were packed with wood chips, moss and cardboard boxes — highly combustible materials, Ebanks said.

No injuries were reported in the fire that destroyed a combined 12,000- to 15,000-square-feet of storage space.

An investigator from the State Fire Marshal’s Office is investigating to determine what started the fire, Ebanks said.