Fire broke out at a Winston-Salem fertilizer factory shortly before 7 p.m. Monday, Jan. 31. Crews fought the blaze for hours before backing off and beginning evacuation efforts in nearby neighborhoods, citing the risk of explosion from chemicals stored on site.
Weaver Fertlizer Co. burns at 4440 N. Cherry St. on Monday, Jan. 31, 2022, in Winston-Salem, N.C.
A structure fire burns at Weaver Fertilizer Co. on Monday, Jan. 31, 2022, in Winston-Salem, N.C.
An angel statue faces in the direction of billowing smoke from the fire at Weaver Fertilizer Co. on Monday, Jan. 31, 2022, in Winston-Salem, N.C.
A structure fire burns at Weaver Fertilizer Co. on Monday, Jan. 31, 2022, in Winston-Salem, N.C.
A lone Winston-Salem police car is seen near a structure fire at Weaver Fertilizer Co. at 4440 N. Cherry St. on Monday, Jan. 31, 2022, in Winston-Salem, N.C.
Clouds of smoke billow around Weaver Fertilizer Co. as the fire continues to burn at 4440 N. Cherry St. on Monday, Jan. 31, 2022, in Winston-Salem, N.C.
Greensboro firefighters pick up oxygen tanks from a hazardous materials truck at a command site during a structure fire at Weaver Fertilizer Co. on Monday, Jan. 31, 2022, in Winston-Salem, N.C.
A bystander watches as Winston-Salem firefighters battle a structure fire at 4440 N. Cherry St. on Monday, Jan. 31, 2022, in Winston-Salem, N.C.
An angel statue faces in the direction of billowing smoke from the fire at Weaver Fertilizer Co. on Monday, Jan. 31, 2022, in Winston-Salem, N.C.
Winston-Salem firefighters battle a structure fire at 4440 N. Cherry St. on Monday, Jan. 31, 2022, in Winston-Salem, N.C.
Winston-Salem firefighters battle a structure fire at 4440 N. Cherry St. on Monday, Jan. 31, 2022, in Winston-Salem, N.C.
Winston-Salem firefighters fight a structure fire at 4440 N. Cherry St. on Monday, Jan. 31, 2022, in Winston-Salem, N.C.
Winston-Salem firefighters battle a structure fire at 4440 N. Cherry St. on Monday, Jan. 31, 2022, in Winston-Salem, N.C.
Winston-Salem police officers create barriers around a structure fire at Weaver Fertilizer Co. on Monday, Jan. 31, 2022, in Winston-Salem, N.C.Â
Winston-Salem firefighters battle a structure fire at 4440 N. Cherry St. on Monday, Jan. 31, 2022, in Winston-Salem, N.C.
A motorist stops to look at the blaze from a structure fire at 4440 N. Cherry St. on Monday, Jan. 31, 2022, in Winston-Salem, N.C.
Winston-Salem firefighters battle a structure fire at 4440 N. Cherry St. on Monday, Jan. 31, 2022, in Winston-Salem, N.C.
There's no word yet on what caused a giant fire at a fertilizer plant in Winston-Salem on Monday night. Firefighters had to abandon their efforts to control the flames due to the possibility of an explosion. Anyone who lives within a mile of the plant was told to leave home.
