Clayton County Fire Chief Jeff Hood told Channel 2s Richard Elliot that crews shot foam onto the stubborn industrial fire Wednesday evening, bringing it under control. The Atlanta Fire Departments airport crash truck was used to do so.
Fire investigators said the fire started just after 2 p.m. in an outdoor storage area at the Tensar International Manufacturing Facility in the 1200 block of Citizens Parkway off Jonesboro Road in Morrow.
News Chopper 2 showed very intense flames behind the building, with firefighters dousing the fire from above.
Channel 2s Tom Jones reported stacks of roofing paper and plastic pipes were fueling the fire.
A representative for the company emailed Channel 2 a statement saying the fire was contained to a back storage lot where Tensar Geogrid products are stored. Tensar Geogrids are made of a plastic material known as polypropylene and high-density polyethylene.
SLIDESHOW: Dark Smoke, Flames Over Clayton County
4 p.m.
Industrial Fire Sends Smoke Over Clayton Co.
5 p.m.
Large Industrial Fire Prompts Nearby Evacuations
6 p.m.
EPA Called As Industrial Fire Burns
Employees were evacuated and accounted for and no injuries were reported, the representative wrote.
The plant will remain closed until further evaluations, the company said.
One firefighter fell and hurt his leg while battling the blaze, Hood said.
People in the vicinity were asked to stay inside and an officer directing traffic told Elliot that several businesses along Highway 54 were evacuated.
Citizens Parkway at Jonesboro Road was closed for several hours as rescue crews tackled the blaze from every angle possible.
The EPA is assisting with the investigation. The cause of the fire is under investigation.
