Large fire at Gerdau Steel Mill takes six hours to extinguish

UPDATE(08/26/2024): Officials provide follow up to fire at Gerdau Steel Mill

MADISON COUNTY, Tenn. — We were informed a little after 9 o’clock Saturday morning by a WBBJ 7 eyewitness news tipster of a fire at Gerdau Jackson Steel Mill.

We spoke to Madison county fire chief Eric Turner, who did confirm to us that there was a fire at Gerdau’s landfill.

Our crew was asked to stay a fair distance from where the fire actually occurred, but you could see heavy smoke from several areas in north Madison county.

Chief Turner also stated that several firemen received minor smoke inhalation.

According to a social media post from Madison county sheriff’s office director of operations Jeff Wall, some firefighters also experienced heat exhaustion while putting out the blaze.

Wall’s post also included that the fire had occurred in an area that contained scrap materials, tires, and rubber items.

Chief Turner told us it took 2 and a half hours to control the fire and 6 and a half hours to extinguish it.

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