FLOYD COUNTY, Ga. — Investigators are working to figure out what caused a massive warehouse fire in Rome Wednesday. The fire happened at the Bekaert plant at about 3:30 p.m.
No injuries were reported, Rome Fire Chief Gordon Henderson said.
On Wednesday night, crews said they would be standing by overnight to make sure nothing sparks up. They said it was dangerous inside and that the roof had collapsed.
Henderson called it a “very serious fire.” He said the cause may have been molten lead.
The roof was engulfed at around 4 p.m.
Residents within a half-mile radius were encouraged to evacuate their homes during the blaze.
Most of the smoke had dissipated by 5 p.m.
"It scared me half to death," nearby resident Joan Salomone said. "I had my windows up and I could smell it and my eyes started burning."
Salomone said her mother was home alone at the time of the fire and chose to remain there. "I called and as I said, she was safe and she said she would feel more comfortable here, unless it was absolutely necessary."