Kernersville metal recycling plant fire now 100% contained

Officials say a massive fire that broke out over the weekend at a Kernersville scrap metal recycling plant is contained. 

Smoke from the blaze at the Omnisource plant could be seen from as far away as Greensboro and Winston-Salem when it broke out on Sunday afternoon. 

Crews worked through the night to battle the two-acre fire, using more than a million gallons of water to bring it under control. One firefighter was injured in the process – they’re in stable condition at an area hospital. 

Chris Kauffman, with Kernersville Fire Rescue, says the blaze is now 100% contained, though some hot spots remain. 

Kauffman says it’s not uncommon for fires to break out at plants like this as sparks can be generated through the metal recycling process. But he says the cause is under investigation. 

“We’re going to see if we can at least find the area of origin," he says. "But I doubt there’s going to be a full determination of what actually started it.” 

Kauffman says emergency management officials were deployed to conduct air and water quality tests – both of which came back within normal limits. Water runoff from firefighting efforts is being contained in retaining ponds at the site.