A fire broke out at the Winston Weaver Company fertilizer plant in Winston-Salem, North Carolina that is estimated to store 600 tons of ammonium nitrate.  More than 6,000 people were evacuated from their homes due to concerns about a possible explosion.  Firefighters were able to keep an eye on conditions with drones until it was safe to cool down what remained and dismantle the rubble left by the blaze.  A berm was built at the site to prevent runoff.  As fire investigators comb through the ruins, we're likely to learn more about the circumstances of the fire in the future.

If you receive questions in the coming weeks, this fact sheet from The Fertilizer Institute (TFI) and Agricultural Retailers Association (ARA), that covers safety and security precautions for ammonium nitrate, is a great resource.  Our thoughts and prayers are with the residents and first responders as they continue the recovery process.