Black smoke could be seen for miles on July 11 as a rock driller burned in Edgecombe County.
The West Edgecombe Volunteer Fire Department was dispatched to the rock quarry on Springfield Road for a fire in a large hydraulic drilling machine.
When firefighters arrived they found a large rock drilling machine on fire. The fire was over 200 feet down at the bottom of the quarry.
They requested mutual aid from the Rocky Mount City Fire Department and Engine Co. 5 responded for additional water to help battle the blaze.
It took firefighters almost one hour to place the blaze under control.
“Something mechanical went wrong with it that caused it to ignite,” said Rocky Mount Battalion Chief Jamie Vaughan.
Edgecombe County EMS units also responded to the fire, but there were no reports of injuries.
