PETERSBURG, Va. (WRIC) — Firefighters with the Petersburg Department of Fire-Rescue are currently working to extinguish a fire at a paper mill.
Around 2:45 a.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 7, crews were called to the International Paper building on Halifax Road and Wells Drive for a reported fire.
Upon their arrival, firefighters found a significant fire outside of the building that had extended inside.
A tractor-trailer, which had been loaded with compressed paper and was connected to the building via the loading dock, was destroyed by the fire. According to authorities, there was also flame damage inside the building, but crews managed to contain most of the fire.
An excavator has been called to the scene and is expected to arrive around 8 a.m. A fire department spokesperson said it would be used to move the trailer away from the building and make it easier to contain the fire inside the trailer.
Authorities told 8News there is severe water damage to the building and there is expected to be a delay in production for the paper business.