Fertilizer Plant Fire, Explosion Threat Leads to Safety Fine

A safety inspection stemming from an ammonium nitrate fertilizer plant fire has resulted in the North Carolina Occupational Safety and Health Division proposing a $5,600 file against Winston Weaver Co.

The Jan. 31 fire and threat of a massive fertilizer explosion led to Winston-Salem city officials calling for about 6,000 people living within a mile of the plant to evacuate.

Firefighters were able to control the blaze before it ignited 5,000 tons of finished fertilizer and 600 tons of ammonium nitrate stored at the plant.

The state workplace agency on Monday said it cited Winston Weaver for keeping ammonium nitrate ...