CAYCE, SC (WACH) - Smoke can be seen for miles in the Midlands due to a fire that started at a recycling plant in Cayce.
The Cayce Department of Public Safety responded to the fire at World Wide Recycling on Foreman Street just after 9 a.m. Friday.
Lt. Jeff Simmons says the fire started near wood pallets outside of the warehouse then moved inside. The building and neighboring woods are burning and Foreman Street is closed.
The roof to the warehouse collapsed around around 10:15 a.m. According to Simmons, the roof collapsing made the fire worse because it exposed more of the building, but the way it collapsed from left to right made the fire easier to attack.
Simmons says CMC Recycling, which is located near World Wide Recycling on Godley Street, was evacuated.
Multiple agencies, including the Columbia-Richland Fire Department, are working together to battle the blaze.
"The more white smoke you see, that means we're making progress," said Simmons. He also said this type of fire produces intense heat that can burn for a long time. It is unknown how long it will take to completely extinguish the fire.
WACH Fox reporter Garrett Bedenbaugh is on the scene and says several police officers and firefighters are working to contain the fire. The responding officers are wearing masks due to the concern of breathing toxic chemicals from burning plastic.
Officials with the Department of Health and Environmental Control say there is not an immediate health issue for those in the area, but they plan on monitoring the air and water.
No one was injured inside the building, but one firefighter has been treated for heat exhaustion. No other injuries have been reported.
TV Station Profiles & Public Inspection Files forWACH