Residents flee airborne acid as North Carolina zinc plant burns

FAN Editor

Mooresboro, N.C. – Authorities in North Carolina say a fire at a zinc production plant in Mooresboro forced some residents to evacuate the area early Monday. The American Zinc Products plant was still burning around 5 a.m.

The fire started Sunday night at the plant, which lies near the border between North and South Carolina. Firefighters contained the blaze to an area of the facility that does not require evacuations, according to Rutherford County Emergency Management, CBS affiliate WPSA reports.

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Still from video of the fire at the  American Zinc Products plant in Mooresboro, North Carolina. Chesnee Community Fire Dept. via WPSA

Deputies went door-to-door warning people to evacuate as the burning plant released sulfuric acid into the air, and the county says about a half-mile area has been evacuated.

Rutherford County Assistant Fire Marshal John Greenway tells news outlets that firefighters have been pulled away from the scene as their gear tested positive for hazardous materials.

He says this is a cautionary measure until officials determine what chemicals they’re dealing with.

According to American Zinc Recycling’s website, the Mooresboro facility removes and refines metals to make “special high-grade (SHG) zinc and continuous-galvanizing grade (CGG).”

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