Flames engulf Gloster GP plant
Published 12:11am Thursday, February 9, 2012Staff & Woodville Republican reports
Editor’s note: The original version of this story incorrectly referred to the Georgia Pacific facility as a paper plant. It is not a paper plant, and we regret the error. The plant was most recently used a plywood plant.
GLOSTER — At least 12 fire units from multiple counties and two states responded to fully engulfed fire at the former Georgia Pacific plant Wednesday night.
Authorities were notified of the fire at approximately 7:45 p.m., according to Amite County Fire Coordinator Sam Walsh.
The fire presumably started at some point after 5 p.m., when the last worker left the plant — which has been closed down for several years.
Employees have been working to tear down the facility and clean the property.
The fire started in the main administrative building and main plant building, Walsh said.
Employees had been working prior to 3 p.m. in that area cutting scrap metal. Authorities believe sawdust and debris in the area may have caught fire from the employees’ cutting torches.
Fire officials responded to a similar fire at the plant two weeks ago. That fire was contained within an hour.
Fire crews from Gloster arrived first Wednesday and were soon joined by crews from McComb, other Southwest Mississippi communities and Louisiana cities. The Gloster fire officials ran out of water after draining the town’s tanks. Water pressure had built back up by 10 p.m.
Walsh said there was nothing toxic in the area, and there were no injuries to employees or firemen.
Authorities did battle one small explosion. Firemen were still on the scene late Wednesday but had contained the fire and were not worried about it spreading.
