Crews battle massive debris fire at Franklin County recycling plant

FRANKLIN COUNTY, Va. (WDBJ) - A fire at the OmniSource Southeast plant in Franklin County is more than 75% out, after first responder crews spent all day Thursday battling the massive blaze.

Dozens of crews were coming in and out of the plant all day Thursday, working to refill their water tanks, and working to contain the fire and the flames.

Plant workers reported smoke coming out of a debris pile around 9:30 Thursday morning. Franklin County’s Chief of Public Safety explained by the time crews got there, smoke was billowing up to the sky.

“When I got on scene the entire pile itself was ablaze,” Chief Michael Fowler said. “[I thought] it’s going to be a long day.”

The burning debris pile was 40 feet high and 100 feet long, according to the chief. It was a challenge to get water up to the blaze, as crews exhausted the well system on scene and the fire hydrants were down the hill.

Agencies from across Southwest Virginia answered the call and brought water tankers. Henry County, Rocky Mount, Fork Mountain, Ferrum, Glade Hill, Burnt Chimney, Snow Creek, Boones Mill, Scruggs, Callaway, Moneta and Collinsville Fire crews were all on scene.

“You have to have unity to spell community and that’s what’s gone on here,” Chief Fowler said.

68 firefighters were on scene from across multiple localities, and no injuries have been reported.

“Regardless of what the name on the side of the truck has been everybody’s been able to come in and able to work seamlessly,” Chief Fowler said.

Chief Fowler told WDBJ7 this is the third fire at the OmniSource plant in Franklin County.

As of 6 p.m. Thursday, the fire had been contained to one debris pile and there was no threat to the surrounding buildings.