Fire at Essity Plant warehouse could continue for days, officials say
COLBERT COUNTY, Ala. (WHNT) — The Essity Plant in Colbert County manufactures paper towels, napkins, tissues and other highly flammable paper products that are causing the fire to continue.
The fire broke out early Saturday morning, but multiple agencies still have first responders on the ground battling the smoke.
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“The best way to describe it is a haybale on steroids. It’s just a lot tighter and more material,” said Barton Volunteer Fire Department Assistant Chief Shane Taylor.
There were no injuries at the Barton plant due to it being an automated building where actual employees don’t work.
Essity Southeast Regional Human Resources Manager Bryan Dyar said the warehouse was strategically built to collapse from within, crediting the design with controlling the fire in one area.
“A fire of this magnitude shuts our operations down temporarily,” Dyar said. “We are working now to assume operations. We’re evacuating the water. We had some water intrusion, so we’re having that vacuumed out, and we’re making plans to resume operations this week.”
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Officials set up a command center, and the community came together, bringing food and drinks to ensure firefighters had what they needed.
With over 30 agencies and over 300 firefighters some from as far away as Mississippi, officials said the flames couldn’t be contained without the many first responders with boots on the ground.
“In some areas, we got small equipment like in my department out here in the county, but we have the resources to pull in from other counties far away, and those people are willing to help,” Taylor explained.
First responders said this weekend proves why volunteer fire departments are vital, especially in rural areas like the one where the plant is located.
Officials said the paper products left in the warehouse will be removed once it is safe, and then the building will be demolished.
“We are so appreciative of our employees, the firefighters, the agencies, the contractors and the Barton community,” Dyar told News 19. “We’ve had firefighters as far as 60 to 65 miles away that have come in to assist us.”
Barton Volunteer Fire Assistant Chief Taylor said it’s possible the burning could continue for a few days. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.
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