Rick Patrick: Greene Publishing, Inc.
At 11:45 a.m. on Tuesday, June 27, Madison Fire Rescue responded to a call for a burning trailer at Madison Metals on SW State Road 14. According to Madison Fire Chief Bruce Jordan, an old vehicle that had not been completely crushed had just been loaded onto a trailer when the fuel tank from the vehicle exploded, causing the trailer to immediately become engulfed in flames. The explosion could be heard as far away as downtown Madison. Ann Harris, a warehouse worker at Madison Metals was working nearby at the time. “We was up there cutting [metal] when we heard this loud boom. I ducked and said, 'Somebody's shooting at us!' [My coworker] said 'No, the trailer's on fire!' We rushed down there to make sure everyone was okay,” said Harris. It took nearly an hour to extinguish the flames.
In addition to Madison Fire Rescue, the Madison County Sheriff's Office (MCSO), Madison County Emergency Medical Services (EMS), and the Greenville Volunteer Fire Department also responded to the call. There were no injuries as a result of the blaze.