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People within one mile of a blazing fire at a fertilizer factory in Winston-Salem are being asked to evacuate due to the threat of a big explosion.
According to WGHP-TV, the fire began Monday night at the Weaver Fertilizer Plant on North Cherry Street. Small explosions at the facility have been verified by city officials.
According to firefighters, there is a high risk of an ammonium nitrate explosion. According to Winston-Salem Fire Chief Trey Mayo, firemen “abandoned” the fire-fighting mission due to the significant amount of ammonium nitrate on the scene.
According to WGHP, the building has also fallen, and access to the merchandise contained within it is prohibited.
Firefighters were unable to move enough water to be fairly assured that it would remain cold enough to avoid an explosion. The fire’s origin is uncertain.
“Don’t sit around waiting for anything to happen. Something has occurred, “Mayo stated on Twitter. “Now is the time to leave.”
As the potential of an explosion remained, first responders were driving around the neighborhood at 2 a.m., urging residents to escape to safety.
The 4400 block of Cherry Street from North Point Boulevard to Indiana Avenue was blocked as emergency workers reacted to the incident at 8:20 p.m. and remain closed, according to a Winston-Salem Police Department press release.
Wake Forest University issued a statement requesting that certain students living in off-campus accommodation voluntarily leave. The institution also stated that it is working on long-term solutions for individuals who do not have another option.
“The evacuation area around 4440 North Cherry Street contains over 6500 inhabitants or 2,497 homes,” the City of Winston-Salem said on Twitter.
People who have evacuated should expect to be gone for up to 48 hours.
There have been no reports of injuries.
