N.C. Firefighters Battle Blaze at Cat Litter Factory

March 08--LAURINBURG -- A fire inside a silo behind a Scotland County plant that makes cat litter rekindled about 30 minutes after firefighters thought they had the blaze out, authorities said.

The fire behind Nature's Earth Products Inc. at 16900 Aberdeen Road initially was reported at 8:40 a.m. Thursday morning, said Melaine Laviner, a communications officer for the Scotland County Fire Department.

Plant employees evacuated upon the initial call, Laviner said.

"We had a good-size fire in it," Laviner said shortly after noon.

At that time, firefighters were close to having the blaze under control, Laviner said.

By 1:15 p.m., she said, the fire was out and firefighters had cleared the scene.

However, the fire kicked back up about 1:45 p.m. and firefighters returned, Laviner said.

They were still at the scene about 4:15 p.m., she said.

Laviner wasn't sure what was stored in the silo.

Officials haven't been able to determine what started the fire.

Copyright 2012 - The Fayetteville Observer, N.C.