LA GRANGE — A day after a pile of recycling caught fire at Foss Recycling in La Grange and sent impressive plumes of smoke into the sky beside U.S. 70, the exact cause is still a mystery. 

Foss Recycling owner Jimmy Foss said even the crane operator who was preparing materials to load into a truck was not sure how the blaze started. He said it could have been as simple as a spark from metal rubbing against metal. Contrary to an earlier report, Foss said there was no accident or mishap involved, nor was there any gasoline or explosion. 

The building-sized pile that caught fire was what is known in the recycling trade as “white goods,” Foss said. That means the pile contained mainly household appliances such as washing machines, refrigerators, stoves and the like.

The pile was destined to be shredded, after which the metal would be separated from the other materials contained in the appliances.

Those other materials, Foss said, were what burned in the impressive blaze. The metal itself did not burn, and should still be able to be recycled. 

“Nobody was injured and no equipment was damaged. If something like this had to happen, it picked the best spot,” Foss said. 

The pile is isolated, he said, and surrounded by dirt on all sides, so there was no danger of the blaze spreading. They noticed the fire around 4:30 p.m., and called for assistance. Foss Recycling owns a water tanker truck, but the one truck was insufficient, so numerous local fire departments responded and their tankers traveled back and forth to the nearest hydrant. 

North Lenoir Fire and Rescue, Sandy Bottom Fire and Rescue, La Grange Fire Department, Hugo Volunteer Fire and Rescue, Southwood Volunteer Fire and Rescue, Wyse Fork Volunteer Fire and Rescue, Seven Springs Volunteer Fire Department and El-Roy Volunteer Firefighters all assisted in getting the fire under control. 

Foss said the rain that began Tuesday evening helped with that effort, and the flames were out by 8 p.m.