WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. (WGHP) — Two years later, the community most directly affected by the Weaver Fertilizer Plant in Winston-Salem is still without answers.
The facility, housing 600 tons of ammonium nitrate, caught fire on Jan. 31, 2022, leading to the evacuation of everyone within a 1-mile radius. Firefighters responded that night to North Cherry Street. It was not until more than an hour later that they learned about the ammonium nitrate inside.
Around 6,500 people living and working nearby were asked to voluntarily evacuate.
It took the firefighters days to put the flames out. They were careful to avoid a reaction and what could have been a devastating and deadly explosion.
People were not allowed back into their homes until four days later.
A longtime Winston-Salem business owner said he lost thousands of dollars following that fire. His business is within walking distance from the site of the fire on Cherry Street.
“We have a good customer base, and so we survived. We’re glad it didn’t blow up, but … we did take a loss … and our employee didn’t want it to come back,” said Sunil Kapoor, Menz Fashion owner.