Firemen Battle Blaze At Smithfield Recycling Facility

A massive fire erupted at a scrap metal recycling facility in Smithfield late-Monday and it continues to burn today (Tuesday). More than a dozen fire departments, along with emergency management officials, responded to Atlantic Scrap & Processing on Wal-Pat Road . Smithfield firemen used a ladder truck to try and contain the initial blaze, but it spread too rapidly, forcing crews to pull back. Smoke from the burning piles of crushed cars could be seen for miles away. The fire did not create any air quality concerns, although state air quality officials were closely monitoring the situation. Due to the large amount of water being used to fight the fire, mandatory water conservation measures have been put into place for customers served by the Smithfield and Johnston County water plants. Residents are being asked to limit non-essential water use until further notice, according to County Manager Rick Hester. Smithfield Police temporarily shut down traffic on US301 Monday night, between Packing Plant and Brogden Road, but that section of US301 has now reopened. The Highway Patrol and DOT are still monitored traffic on Interstate 95 for any possible problems. Monday’s fire at Atlantic Scrap is the second major fire at the same business in six months. Last October, eleven departments battled a similar fire that took 20 hours to contain. The exact cause of Monday’s fire has not been determined. Atlantic Scrap & Processing is based in Kernersville , NC , but has several metal recycling facilities like the one in Smithfield , scattered across the state.