Multiple fire departments battled a large fire at AmeriScrap foundry, formerly known as Greeneville Iron & Metals, on Saturday. After 11 hours of work, thousands of gallons of water shuttled in, and dozens of firefighters and and agencies collaborating, the fire was declared under control around 12:00 p.m.
Callers reported large flames and a mountain of scrap metal ablaze around 1:00 a.m. at AmeriScrap on Old Stage Road. Upon arrival, firefighters from the Greeneville Fire Department, as well as the Tusculum, Newmansville, and Limestone Volunteer Fire Departments, requested additional assistance. Units from Camp Creek, Mosheim, Caney Branch, Town of Mosheim, United, and Debusk Volunteer Fire Departments were dispatched by 9-1-1. The St. James Volunteer Fire Department was put on standby to set up at one of the Greeneville fire stations in case of further calls in the county. All other departments that did not send firefighters to that scene remained on standby to help other cover other zones while departments collaborated.
Incident commander Marty Shelton said that the fire was in a pile of appliances and other items that had yet to be sorted into metal and other components. There were combustibles present in addition to the metals, which can burn at very high temperatures. The pile was also next to scrap cars which had yet to be fully stripped of all non-metal components. Shelton said that trucks ranging from 1,500 gallons to 4,000 gallons were in constant shuttle to the scene, and dropped their water in portable dump tanks. Shelton said that the operation used four of those dump tanks arranged so that each tank fed the next and shuttle tankers could keep the constantly refilled.
Water was shuttled to the scene from multiple locations, including pumping sites and hydrants at the former Dohler Jarvis, Old Stage Road, and Snapps Ferry Road. Firefighters emptied tanker after tanker of water into holding areas, providing water to aerial trucks and other hoses. Active firefighting continued until around 12 p.m. when the fire was largely under control. However, cleanup and suppression efforts were expected to continue through much of Saturday afternoon, and motorists in the area were advised to remain cautious of tanker trucks traveling to and from the fire scene. There was also the risk of the fire rekindling, requiring firefighters to return to the area at other times.
The Debusk Rehab unit, EMS, Emergency Management Agency, Greeneville Energy Authority, the Greeneville/Emergency & Rescue Squad, and Greene County Chaplain Danny Ricker were present at the scene. Greeneville Police and the Greene County Sheriff’s Department assisted with traffic control.
Barricades were erected in the area to prevent traffic on Old Stage Road between Snapps Ferry Road and Rufe Taylor Road.
Around 3:15 a.m., as the fire raged, a Norfolk Southern train was reported in Greeneville heading northbound at a slow speed. AmeriScrap is situated at a railroad crossing on Old Stage Road, and authorities attempted to contact the railroad to request the train be stopped to avoid blocking the water supply route. However, Norfolk Southern stated the train could not be halted as it was already too close to the scene. It passed through the area with minimal disruption to firefighting efforts. Authorities maintained communication with Norfolk Southern to alert firefighters of approaching trains, allowing tankers to be diverted to other water sources or anticipate delays at the crossing.
The Greene County Highway Department also responded to the scene with a fuel truck to refuel the tanker trucks shuttling water.
Emergency Management Director Heather Sipe stated efforts were made to ensure runoff water from firefighting efforts did not contaminate local waterways. Sipe said that the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation had been contacted, and came to check local waterways. The closest, Frank Creek, had no issues and showed no contamination from any runoff. Sipe said one holding pond had been created near where water was running of burning cars, and that any contamination would be dealt with by Hazmat teams..
Shelton reported the fire was about 50% contained just before 4:00 a.m. By 7:00 a.m., the blaze was approximately 75% contained. Just before 12:00 p.m., Shelton declared the fire substantially contained but anticipated cleanup and suppression efforts to continue throughout much of the afternoon.
All those involved praised the cooperation and interaction between agencies. Sipe also expressed thanks to the Marathon Quick Stop Market on Snapps Ferry Road that was going to provide pizza to the responders.
