'Major fire' at industrial plant in Chester County, SC emergency officials say

Aug. 24--CHESTER COUNTY, S.C. -- Chester County, SC

A fire continued to burn Monday morning at an industrial plant in Chester County, emergency officials said.

What Chester County Emergency Management director Eddie Murphy described as a "major fire" is being fought at the Carolina Poly plant on S.C. 9.

Smoke could be seen from miles away, officials said. Murphy said fire crews are on the scene, and officials also are determining what environmental impact the fire and smoke might have.

Officials from the S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control and other South Carolina state agencies were notified, Murphy said.

DHEC advised people who live or work nearby to stay away from the smoke, according to a written release issued before noon Monday.

"Odor is a primary indication that individuals need to move away from the vicinity of the fire," said Rhonda Thompson, DHEC director of air quality. "For anyone near the industrial fire who can smell smoke or notice an odor that is not normally present, we recommend you temporarily leave the area."

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According to a statement from DHEC, the chemical content of smoke varies depending on what is being burned, and industrial fires are different from wood fires.

Smoke is made up mostly of particles, and no matter what's burning, the small particles in smoke aren't healthy to breathe, DHEC officials stated. While larger particles are filtered out by the nose and upper respiratory tract, small particles can enter the lungs. People with pre-existing lung or heart disease are at higher risk for developing symptoms from breathing in smoke particles, DHEC said in the statement.

The direction of smoke can change quickly depending on wind direction and speed, DHEC officials said.

No injuries had been reported, Murphy said.

The fire was outside the plant, and as of 10 a.m. had not impacted the plant building, said Grant Suskin, spokesman for the Chester County Sheriff's Office.

The building was evacuated as fire crews worked, Suskin said.

No evacuation of nearby residents or commercial plants has been ordered, Suskin said.

The fire involved wooden pallets, plastics on materials and pallets, trailers, and other materials such as tires on the trailers, Suskin said.

Around 10 a.m. fire remained active and was not yet under control as fire crews fought the blaze, said T. Melton, Richburg Volunteer Fire Department Assistant Chief.

All Chester County fire departments were dispatched to the scene, Melton said.

Other emergency and fire crews were dispatched from as far away as York County and Cherokee County, Suskin said. York County Emergency Management sent its mobile command post to assist, Suskin said.

The S.C. Forestry Commission is also on scene working to establish a fire break in nearby woods to keep the fire from spreading, Suskin said.

The plant is east of the city of Chester and west of Interstate 77. The area is about 10 miles south of York County, and is between Rock Hill and Columbia.

Murphy, the Chester emergency management director, said the fire Monday may be as large or larger than a fire at an industrial plant in Texas last week. That fire last week was in Grand Prairie, Texas, near Dallas.

Carolina Poly Inc. produces trash bags, plastic sheeting, shrink films and other products. Part of Poly-America, one of the largest polyethylene film manufacturers in the U.S., Carolina Poly announced in 2015 a $100 million investment in Chester County. The 500-square-foot facility at 1580 Lancaster Highway began production in 2017.

The Texas fire last week was at a Poly-America facility, according to USA today, and other news reports.

Check back for updates on this developing story.

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