Firefighters Injured in Sonoco Recycling Facility Fire; Additional Support Requested in Greenville

Emergency crews are battling a major fire at a Sonoco recycling facility in Greenville, South Carolina, with officials calling for additional manpower as the incident continues to unfold.

According to Gantt Fire Chief Brady Norris, crews were dispatched to the facility on White Horse Road at approximately 9 a.m. on Tuesday. Upon arrival, firefighters encountered heavy smoke billowing from the front exterior of the building, which was visible from multiple areas across the county, including Interstate 85.

The nature of the facility, which stores large volumes of paper and cardboard materials, has made firefighting efforts particularly challenging. The high concentration of combustible materials has complicated access and intensified fire conditions inside the structure.

Multiple agencies have been deployed to the scene, including the Greenville City Fire Department and Donaldson Airport’s Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting (ARFF) units. These specialized vehicles are equipped to combat high-intensity fires using water, foam, and dry chemical agents.

During the response, two firefighters sustained injuries. One was transported to a hospital and is expected to recover, while the condition of the second firefighter has not been detailed.

Authorities confirmed that the fire has been contained within the building and is not spreading beyond the facility. Crews are now working to dismantle parts of the structure using heavy equipment to gain access and remove combustible materials.

Chief Norris indicated that the incident is expected to last several hours and could extend over multiple days. A large-scale response is already underway, with 14 fire stations and approximately 95 firefighters from three counties involved. Additional support is being mobilized, including around 50 firefighters scheduled to assist during overnight operations.

Despite the scale of the fire, Greenville County Emergency Management has stated that there are currently no air quality concerns for nearby residents.

Fire officials continue to monitor the situation closely as containment and recovery efforts progress.