Fire at Winston Weaver fertilizer plant forces mile-wide evacuation
2022
Winston-Salem
A fire at the Winston Weaver Co. fertilizer plant on North Cherry Street led officials to order everyone within one mile to evacuate on the evening of Jan. 31, 2022.
The plant held a large quantity of ammonium nitrate, raising the threat of an explosion. Firefighters mitigated the hazard, and at 8 p.m. on Feb. 3 the evacuation zone was reduced to the area around the plant. On Feb. 21 the City Council approved $1 million to reimburse low-income residents who lived or worked within the evacuation zone.