Firefighters and hazardous material teams were fighting a blaze in what authorities identified as a battery recycling plant in downtown Cartersville Saturday afternoon. About 100 residents have been evacuated from the area because of smoke.
The unidentified business is near the intersection of North Irvin and Porter Streets.
"We're telling the people we have not evacuated to close their windows and turn off their air conditioners," said Johnny Payne, director of emergency management for Bartow County. Payne said he believe the blaze started under a tent-like lean-to beside one of the plant's two buildings.
When crews arrived, around 3:30, they saw barrels exploding and smoke billowing, but they did not know what was burning. "We haven't started putting water on it yet" until hazardous material crews could identify the chemical burning, said Lt. Johnny Frazier, with the Cartersville fire department.
By 5 p.m., crews appeared to have the fire under control, said Payne. Only one person was reported injured and was taken to a nearby hospital, said Payne.
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