Firefighters continued working Monday morning after a large fire at a recycling facility on Mallory Road sent a column of black smoke across South Fulton and prompted a public safety advisory.
The fire was reported at approximately 4:31 p.m. Sunday in the 5500 block of Mallory Road. According to the City of South Fulton, crews remained engaged in suppression operations as smoke and falling debris affected nearby areas.
Smoke advisory issued
City officials said the smoke plume was not identified as toxic, while also warning that any smoke can irritate the eyes and throat and may cause coughing or breathing difficulty. Residents in the path of the plume were advised to remain indoors, close windows and doors, avoid drawing outside air into their homes and take additional precautions if they have asthma or another respiratory condition.
Officials also asked people to stay away from the scene, keep roads clear for emergency vehicles and avoid driving toward the fire to watch the response. No injuries or evacuations had been reported.
Airport operations affected
The smoke was visible from Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport. Local reporting indicated that flight patterns were temporarily adjusted as the plume spread near the airport area. The fire continued burning overnight into Monday.
The cause remains under investigation. Officials had not announced when the site would be fully cleared or when normal operations in the immediate area would resume.
Sources: City of South Fulton; FOX 5 Atlanta; Providence Green Solutions.
