Expand / Collapse search
☰
Flood Warning
from SAT 5:17 AM MST until SAT 2:00 PM MST, Maricopa County
4
Flood Warning
until SAT 12:15 PM MST, Gila County
Flood Watch
from SAT 11:00 PM MST until MON 5:00 AM MST, North Phoenix/Glendale, Aguila Valley, Mazatzal Mountains, Tonopah Desert, Gila Bend, San Carlos, East Valley, Northwest Pinal County, Northwest Valley, Southeast Valley/Queen Creek, Globe/Miami, Deer Valley, Fountain Hills/East Mesa, Apache Junction/Gold Canyon, Buckeye/Avondale, Tonto Basin, Rio Verde/Salt River, South Mountain/Ahwatukee, Dripping Springs, Southeast Gila County, Pinal/Superstition Mountains, Scottsdale/Paradise Valley, New River Mesa, Sonoran Desert Natl Monument, West Pinal County, Superior, Cave Creek/New River, Central Phoenix, Northwest Plateau, Eastern Cochise County below 5000 ft including Douglas/Wilcox, Upper Gila River and Aravaipa Valleys including Clifton/Safford, Southeast Pinal County including Kearny/Mammoth/Oracle, Western Pima County including Ajo/Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument, Dragoon/Mule/Huachuca and Santa Rita Mountains including Bisbee/Canelo Hills/Madera Canyon, Tucson Metro Area including Tucson/Green Valley/Marana/Vail, Tohono O'odham Nation including Sells, Baboquivari Mountains including Kitt Peak, Upper San Pedro River Valley including Sierra Vista/Benson, Chiricahua Mountains including Chiricahua National Monument, Galiuro and Pinaleno Mountains including Mount Graham, Santa Catalina and Rincon Mountains including Mount Lemmon/Summerhaven, White Mountains of Graham and Greenlee Counties including Hannagan Meadow, South Central Pinal County including Eloy/Picacho Peak State Park, Upper Santa Cruz River and Altar Valleys including Nogales, Yavapai County Mountains, Little Colorado River Valley in Navajo County, Western Mogollon Rim, Coconino Plateau, Yavapai County Valleys and Basins, Oak Creek and Sycamore Canyons, Grand Canyon Country, Little Colorado River Valley in Coconino County, Marble and Glen Canyons, Northern Gila County, White Mountains, Kaibab Plateau, Eastern Mogollon Rim, Little Colorado River Valley in Apache County
Flood Watch
from SUN 12:00 AM MDT until MON 5:00 AM MST, Chinle Valley, Chuska Mountains and Defiance Plateau, Northeast Plateaus and Mesas South of Hwy 264, Black Mesa Area, Northeast Plateaus and Mesas Hwy 264 Northward

Winston-Salem fertilizer plant fire: Explosion risk remains days later despite rain

By Kelly Hayes
FOX TV Digital Team
North Carolina
Updated February 3, 2022 12:59 PM MST Published February 3, 2022 12:57 PM MST
Fire at Weaver Fertilizer Plant in NC prompts evacuations
Fire at Weaver Fertilizer Plant in NC prompts evacuations

A fire raging at a North Carolina fertilizer plant forced the evacuations of thousands of people on Feb. 1, 2022, as firefighters warned that chemicals at the site could cause an explosion.

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. - The risk of an explosion remained Thursday at the site of a fertilizer plant fire in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, days after it first broke out, officials said — while also warning about other continued health hazards in the area. 

Winston-Salem Battalion Chief Patrick Grubbs said during a briefing that despite overnight rain that helped to suppress the uncontrolled fire, there was still a risk of explosion. The fire became a bit smaller, but there were still active flames, he added.

The fire began Monday night at the Winston Weaver Company fertilizer plant on the north side of the 250,000-person city and quickly consumed the entire building, which collapsed. 

Firefighters battled the flames for about 90 minutes, but the risk of explosion forced them to retreat. No injuries were reported. An estimated 500 tons of combustible ammonium nitrate were housed at the plant and nearly another 100 tons of the fertilizer ingredient were in an adjacent rail car.

FIRE_AT_FERTILIZER_PLANT_IN_NC_MAY_CAUSE_EXPLOSION__AREA_EVACUATED__VO___MWNCFIRE

Flames are seen shooting from the Weaver Fertilizer Plant in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, on Feb. 1, 2022. (Credit: WFMY-TV)

About 6,500 people in 2,500 homes were asked to evacuate soon after the fire broke out. Officials said Thursday there was no projected return time for that area.

"Our message has stayed the same the whole time — we’re asking all the citizens to stay out of the area and if they’re in the area to evacuate," Grubbs said. 

Grubbs added that anyone with respiratory issues should stay out of the smoke cloud, but in general, the smoke also isn't good for anyone who is healthy. The smoke and runoff from the site continued to be an issue in Winston-Salem, prompting school closures and water advisories, according to FOX 8.

Overnight rain in the area also meant that drones and helicopters couldn’t survey the fire from above, which they have been doing this week to watch for any changes in conditions, officials said. A fire truck at the scene has been putting water on hot spots.

The Winston-Salem Fire Department on Thursday shared helmet camera footage of some firefighters returning to the site, which showed thick smoke still billowing from the scene.

Officials initially thought the situation could end in 36 hours, maybe even two days. But Winston-Salem Fire Chief Trey Mayo said Wednesday that there were too many unknowns to make any predictions.

Specialists from several states were involved and air monitoring equipment around the scene has been checking for different gases, Grubb said.

Fire Investigator Rick McIntyre said a 12-person team, including federal and state investigators, is collecting information, conducting interviews and reviewing drone footage to help understand the damage that has occurred.

This story was reported from Cincinnati. The Associated Press contributed.

North CarolinaNewsCrime and Public Safety