Lake Alfred, Fla. — Firefighters were able to prevent a serious environmental situation from developing after a sludge fire began at the Growers Fertilizer plant Dec. 5, according to local media reports. Based on an emergency plan for the plant, firefighters prevented the fire from reaching ammonium nitrate that was stored nearby. The sludge was heated during a welding job and burst into flames. Nearby residents were not affected by the potentially dangerous smoke. The Florida Department of Environmental Protection said water used to extinguish the blaze did not run into a nearby lake because the plant had a good water retention system. The cause of the fire was ruled accidental, and there were no injuries. Coincidentally, the fire occurred at the same plant where a worker was fired a week earlier for leaving a noose hanging at the facility (GM Dec. 10, p. 13).
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