Fire crews from across York County spent hours last night beating back a heavy industrial blaze that ripped through a polymer-processing building on Fire Tower Road in the Lesslie area of Rock Hill. Mutual-aid companies and specialized units worked to contain the fire and shield nearby businesses and homes, while emergency medical teams cooled and treated firefighters on scene. There were no immediate reports of injuries as crews concentrated on knocking down hot spots and keeping the flames from spreading.
According to Queen City News, Lesslie Fire & Rescue said firefighters arrived to find heavy fire and immediately put ladder pipes into operation. Ladder trucks from Lesslie and Rock Hill poured water onto the building as mutual-aid units from Oakdale, Riverview, McConnells, Bethesda Volunteer, Newport and York County Fire joined the response. Initial crews reported operating in defensive mode as smoke and flames pushed through the roofline.
Where the blaze started
The industrial building on Fire Tower Road houses a polymer-processing operation, and the company lists its Rock Hill location at 1391 Firetower Road on its website. The facility performs blending, grinding and repackaging of plastics and resins, work that involves heat and material-handling equipment. Polymer Processing Inc. lists the address and contact information on its site.
Mutual aid, hazmat and rehab
York County HazMat was called to the scene, and crews remained on site for more than five hours, Queen City News reports. Medical teams from Atrium Health Fort Mill EMS and Piedmont Medical Center set up a rehabilitation area to keep firefighters hydrated and cool as companies rotated through the hot, smoky conditions. Officials staged water shuttles and ladder pipes to protect exposures while salvage and overhaul work began.
Why polymer-processing fires are complicated
Burning polymers can produce dense, toxic smoke and a mix of hazardous gases that make ventilation and firefighter safety much more complex, according to a scientific review. A review in PubMed Central notes that thermal decomposition of polymers can release carbon monoxide, hydrogen cyanide and other irritant gases. Separate safety coverage points out that plastics processing often creates combustible dust that can lead to explosive conditions unless facilities follow NFPA guidance and complete dust-hazard analyses. Occupational Health & Safety outlines practices companies use to manage those risks.
Authorities had not released a cause for the blaze as crews continued overhaul, and an investigation into the building and its equipment was expected. Officials urged the public to stay away from the immediate area while cleanup crews worked and roads remained restricted.
