No one injured in plastics fire near Stone Mountain

By Alexis Stevens

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

DeKalb County investigators have not yet determined what caused recyclable materials to catch fire Sunday afternoon. But the heavy black smoke was visible for hours in the Stone Mountain area.

“Plastics like that produce quite a bit of dark smoke," Derrick Roberts, DeKalb fire department battalion chief, told the AJC.

About 50 bales were burning when firefighters arrived and two nearby tractor-trailers also ignited, Roberts said. The smoke could be seen for miles as it filled the air above the fire, which started on Beverage Drive near East Ponce de Leon.

No one was injured and with an extensive effort, firefighters were able to prevent the blaze from spreading to a nearby business, Roberts said. Firefighters remained on the scene for several hours battling potential hot spots.

A business owner said the trailers contained plastic bottles and other items intended for recycling, Channel 2 Action News reported.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation, Roberts said.