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By: Erin Smith
An explosion ocurred at Cape Fear Chemical Tiger Products located at 4271 US 701 South between Elizabethtown and Clarkton on Monday morning leading to the closure of US 701 in both directions. The highway was closed for the better part of the day on Monday as fire crews worked to extinguish the fire and keep the sulfur dust cool. No injuries were reported and all employees were accounted for.
The explosion ocurred inside the production building blowing a hole in the roof and leaving a gaping hole in one side of the facility, according to owner Jamie Brice.
“We don’t know what happened,” said Brice.
He said the company has been located at the site for 66 years with few problems. Brice said that there was a “minor incident” at the plant about three years ago.
Fire crews are still on the scene and working diligently to contain the situation.
“Firefighters are working to cool the sulfur to prevent any further explosions. It’s contained in a machine and we don’t want to cut the machine or building due to sparks,” said Elizabethtown Fire Chief Nick West.
West said sulfur is combustible.
Lenwood Howell, an employee at the plant, said, “We didn’t see nothing but fire coming from the machine and everyone trying to get away. It scared us. It could have been much worse than it was.”
Evacuations were ordered for homes that were approximately one-quarter mile downwind of the fire. Haz-Mat crews were called to scene to help with smoldering sulfur.
Responding to the incident were Elizabethtown Fire Department, Clarkton Fire Department, Bladenboro Fire Department, Lisbon Fire Department, White Lake Fire Department, Bladen County EMS, Bladen County Emergency Management, the North Carolina Highway Patrol, and Bladen County Sheriff’s Office.
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