The screen shot taken from the streaming of WXII-TV, virtual channel 12, an NBC-affiliated television station, shows smoke arising in Winston-Salem, southeastern U.S. state of North Carolina, where a fire broke out at a fertilizer plant and forced thousands of people to evacuate on Feb. 1, 2022. (Xinhua)
There were about 600 tons of ammonium nitrate, a chemical compound used widely in fertilizers and explosives, at the scene of the fire.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 1 (Xinhua) -- A fire burning at a fertilizer plant in Winston-Salem, southeastern U.S. state of North Carolina, forced thousands of people to evacuate on Tuesday.
The blaze reportedly started at the plant on Monday evening and was still active as of Tuesday morning.
At least 6,000 residents within a one-mile (1.6 kilometers) radius of the Weaver Fertilizer Plant have been mandated to leave their homes over the potential of an ammonium nitrate explosion. Nearby Wake Forest University canceled classes for Tuesday.
There were about 600 tons of ammonium nitrate, a chemical compound used widely in fertilizers and explosives, at the scene of the fire, according to officials.
Dozens of firefighters and up to about 150 emergency personnel have been working on the fire and evacuating the area.
Governor of North Carolina Roy Cooper tweeted on Tuesday that his office is in communication with state emergency agencies and local officials "regarding the dangerous fire in Winston-Salem."
"I appreciate the work of fire fighters and the state will continue to provide any assistance necessary to get this fire under control," Cooper added.
With a population of roughly 250,000, Winston-Salem is in the northwestern part of North Carolina. ■
