Explosion reported at Greensboro aluminum plant, officials say

Incident reported at Greensboro aluminum plant

Officials said a "major fire incident" occurred at the Novelis facility in Greene County on Sunday afternoon.

GREENSBORO, Ga. - A significant explosion at the Novelis aluminum recycling plant on Willow Run Road sent shockwaves through Greene County on Sunday evening. The blast, which occurred at a facility known as a world leader in aluminum rolling and recycling, was powerful enough to be felt by residents living several miles away.

What we know:

Greene County Public Safety and EMA Director Joe Bayshore reported that the explosion originated in the "stack house," a filtration component located outside the main building. The blast triggered secondary fires on conveyor belts inside the facility. 

Despite the scale of the incident, which drew a massive response from Greene and surrounding counties, officials confirmed that all 16 employees inside the plant at the time evacuated safely. There were no reported injuries or fatalities.

Emergency crews remained on the scene throughout the evening to manage heavy smoke and contain remaining hotspots. 

While the fire is considered one of the most significant the county has seen in years, officials have already conducted air quality tests around the plant and neighboring businesses. Those tests showed no environmental hazards or issues for the public. The facility is a world leader in aluminum rolling and recycling; one of its biggest clients is Coca-Cola, for which it supplies aluminum for cans.

FOX 5 reached out to Novelis and is currently waiting on a statement.

What they're saying:

Public Safety and EMA Director Joe Bayshore described the sheer scale of the event, noting that the impact was felt far beyond the property lines. "It was a significant explosion. We heard people describe it several miles away—hearing it and feeling the explosion, houses vibrating somewhat," Bayshore said.

Describing the internal damage and the nature of the facility's work, Bayshore explained the specific area where the failure occurred. "The stack house, which is kind of a filtration for the plant, exploded," he said. "They remanufacture aluminum cans and they clean them, melt them down, and turn them into aluminum blocks."

Bayshore also emphasized the fortunate outcome regarding the safety of the staff on-site. "Sixteen people in the plant, nobody got injured. Everyone evacuated. Got there—no injuries, no fatalities," he said. Regarding the potential for chemical or smoke hazards, he confirmed the area is clear: "We checked air quality around the immediate location, checked air quality at surrounding businesses, and couldn’t find anything or issues at all."