Officials are investigating a two-alarm fire that occurred at the Wilmington Wastewater Treatment Plant Tuesday, morning.
The Wilmington Fire Department responded at approximately 4:30 a.m. on February 17, 2026, after receiving reports of a structure fire at the plant, located at 475 Hay Road. Battalion Chief Laurence Hinds arrived to find smoke pushing from the roof area and fire visible inside the building.
Fire crews initially advanced into the structure, where they encountered heavy fire conditions involving an industrial dryer and associated equipment used to process solids from incoming wastewater and dry it for disposal. During suppression efforts, an explosion involving the equipment occurred, prompting an immediate evacuation of all personnel from the building…