Madison Co. Fire Chief talks details of Gerdau Steel Mill fire
MADISON COUNTY, Tenn. — Saturday night, we received multiple calls from WBBJ 7 Eyewitness News tipsters following reports of dark smoke in northern Madison County.
Madison County firefighters and additional local first responders faced an intense and challenging blaze at the Gerdau Steel Mill in Madison County and remained on scene battling the fire until sunday morning.
PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Madison Co. Fire Dept. issues update on Gerdau Steel Mill fire
According to Madison County Fire Chief Eric Turner the fire was not intentional.
“There was a little bit of everything in this stuff, but it was mainly, as you can see, the large trailer truck loads of cars that are smashed that’s going to Gerdau. That’s what was on fire. It was hundreds, if not over a thousand, of those cars,” said Chief Turner.
This is not the first time a fire has occured at the Gerdau Steel Mill.
“This was not in the landfill area. This was, like I said, where the crushed cars [were]. We have had a fire in that area before, but it’s been several years ago so this is not a common area. Not a common thing,” said Chief Turner.
Chief Turner tells us he doesn’t believe there was enough intense smoke to be cause for a health concern, considering the location of the facility.
Chief Turner expresses how dangerous fires like this are during a heat wave in West Tennessee, along with firefighters that feel the impact from the blaze.
“We had to request mutual aid from other departments due to the size and needing the extra tankers for the water, and that kind of thing. Gibson County fire, Medina fire, and the City of Jackson supplied us with a tanker. Our local EMA brought water and refreshments for our firefighter, which was much needed. The med center EMS sent multiple ambulances there to standby to have a place to treat our firefighters,” said Chief Turner.
Chief Turner tells us only one firefighter was transported to a local hospital for heat injuries.
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