ANDERSON, S.C.
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A fire damaged an Anderson County plant on Wednesday that was to soon house a new tissue company.
The fire was burning at the old Shaw plant on Masters Boulevard near Highway 29 at about 9 a.m.
Anderson County Fire Chief Bill Gibson said that crews were using torches to remove old duct work at the plant. He said that fibers that had built up in the duct work when the plant was operational ignited. He said that the fire quickly spread because the material is highly flammable.
Gibson said that firefighters have to get into the duct work to fight the blaze, which is extremely dangerous. He said that some of the duct work will have to be dismantled to reach the fire.
Witnesses said that thick black smoke could be seen miles away rising from the site of the plant.
Several crews were called in to help battle the blaze. The American Red Cross was also at the scene to provide food and water to firefighters.
First Quality Enterprises Inc. announced in May that it was planning to bring 1,000 jobs to the county by moving in to the facility.
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