By Bill Carey
FireRescue1
SOUTH HILL, Va. — A fire at a fertilizer warehouse in South Hill resulted in the death of a woman and left over a dozen firefighters injured.
The South Hill Police Department stated that a fire began on July 6 when a woman drove into the Nutrien Ag Solutions facility, striking a propane tank. The impact moved the tank 10 to 20 feet, causing the fire, WRAL reported.
No one was inside the facility at the time of the crash.
The woman was flown to a hospital, where she succumbed to her injuries, according to the South Hill police chief.
At least 15 firefighters were treated at VCU Community Memorial Hospital for chemical exposure, heat exhaustion and minor injuries. One firefighter was reportedly still hospitalized on July 7.
The cause of the crash is under investigation.
Firefighters from several departments, including those from Warren County, successfully contained the fire.
The Virginia Department of Environmental Quality reported minimal impact from air pollutants. WRAL stated that a South Hill volunteer firefighter mentioned that several firefighters are returning their equipment to the manufacturer due to exposure to hazardous chemicals while battling the warehouse fire.
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