A fire broke out early Thursday morning in Southeast Atlanta, sending flames and smoke into the air from stacks of pallets at two nearby businesses. Atlanta Fire and Rescue said the fire is now contained, and no buildings were damaged.
Crews responded to the area near Sawtell Avenue and McDonough Boulevard, where the flames were located behind a pallet manufacturing company and a pallet recycling company. Officials say the fire was set deep in a lot away from the road, requiring crews to stretch up to 1,000 feet of hose from a nearby hydrant to reach it.
Photos from the scene earlier in the morning showed large flames and thick smoke. The fire was close to an abandoned warehouse, but crews were able to stop it before it reached the structure. โIt definitely is more taxing on us,โ one firefighter said. โThe weight of the gear holds your body temperature, and you get hotter. So we do have to monitor our work-rest cycles and hydration, but this is what we train for.โ
Atlanta Fire Rescue reports that four engines and three aerial trucks responded. Despite the intense flames, there was no visible structural damage, and the fire was kept to the outdoor stacks of wooden pallets. The cause of the fire has not yet been determined and remains under investigation.
