The fire broke out at 1:30 a.m. Saturday at National Salvage and Service Corp on Old Mount Olive Highway. The company recycles old railroad ties. Authorities say the fire remains contained, but there are still areas of the site that is still on fire.
First responders remain at the scene in Dudley and have been aided by rain throughout the evening and morning as they battle the blaze. Genoa Road reopened Sunday morning but Old Mount Olive Highway remains closed around the site. Authorities reported there were no injuries in the incident.
The North Carolina Forest Service conducted air drops to assist with the firefighting efforts.
First responders remained at the scene and a Wayne County official said that because of the nature of the fuel load, operations are in a defensive status. Firefighters were working to protect exposures and surrounding property.
“Incident command released all out-of-county teams this morning, and we greatly appreciate their assistance overnight to allow our local responders time off,” said Joel Gillie, Wayne County Public Affairs Director. “The North Carolina Office of the State Fire Marshall remains on the scene to coordinate any resources needed from out-of-county agencies.”
The cause of the fire has not yet been determined.
The Wayne County Sheriff’s Office Fire Investigation team, North Carolina Forest Service, NC State Bureau of Investigation, and North Carolina Department of Insurance will investigate the incident.
Firefighters battled a blaze that broke out overnight at a salvage yard in Dudley, NC, early Saturday morning.
Source: WTVD
“We appreciate the ongoing support from the community, who have brought supplies for our first responders as they work continuously on the scene,” Gillie said. “The American Red Cross remains on scene to coordinate these donations and assist with keeping our teams taken care of.”