FAYETTEVILLE, Tenn. — UPDATE (9/22): FOX54 was contacted by Kaye Cowley, whose family owns Palatec, the business affected by Thursday's fire that ravaged the property.
Cowley said that there is a second location which is still in operation and producing pallets. Product will be shipped from that location as of Friday, and the company "will be reworking and shipping used pallets from the Huntsville Hwy. location Monday."
Our original reporting continues below:
A fire engulfed the massive business of Palatec in the early hours of Thursday morning.
According to Elk Valley Times, the large fire has been contained, but they are still working on hot spots and a fire in the Palatec office building. Lincoln County Emergency Management Agency Director and Fire Chief Doug Campbell said he received a call between 2:30 a.m. and 3:00 a.m. that a vehicle had crashed into a power pole next to the manufacturing facility, causing the fire. Elk Valley Times also reports that the fire then spread to 1000-pound propane tanks in the area, according to reports. Officials said when a propane tank blew it traveled approximately 250 feet in the air and all the windows in a nearby home were blown out.
The fire then spread to the Palatec and thousands of pallets caught fire, officials said.
No fatalities have been reported, according to officials, who said there were injuries involved in the wreck.
Power outages were reported in the area and some homes were evacuated.
Tennessee Valley Enforcement Agency suggests commuters driving into Huntsville use alternate routes, such as Highway 10 or Old Huntsville Road, as crews assess the scene.