Massive South Fulton fire under control, cause remains unknown
Cause of massive South Fulton fire still under investigation
A massive fire broke out at a South Fulton recycling plant Sunday evening, prompting a multi-alarm response that kept firefighters on scene for more than 24 hours.
SOUTH FULTON, Ga. - South Fulton firefighters battled a massive recycling facility fire on Mallory Road that forced airport flight pattern shifts and triggered a local smoke advisory Sunday evening.
Crews battle large South Fulton fire
A large fire is burning in South Fulton on Sunday, sending massive smoke plumes into the sky that can be seen for miles.
Hazardous material teams tested the air on Monday and gave an all-clear on toxicity, finding nothing beyond standard fire smoke.
Crews worked until 12 a.m. Monday to bring the flames under control, though firefighters stayed on scene past 24 hours.
What they're saying:
Thick plumes of smoke rose into the air Sunday afternoon from a recycling facility in the 5500 block of Mallory Road.
Officials received multiple calls regarding the fire starting at 4:31 p.m.
South Fulton Fire Marshal Gregory Chambers said that cylinders were exploding, and some projectiles could be heard popping into the woodline and surrounding street.
"They have computer parts, they have, there's some batteries in there and other, you know, motherboards and things like that. So they do some recycling and storage," Chambers said.
Officials are still working to determine possible environmental impacts from the fire.
The warehouse is home to multiple businesses.
Additionally, people who live in the area could have trouble getting home.
"I don't know that it's going to be an environmental issue. That's not my field of study. But for them [nearby residents] coming home, if they would just be careful, probably they're not going to be able to get in with a vehicle. So if they were on foot, depending on which end of Mallory Road they lived on, they might be able to walk to their home, but there won't be any traffic for some time until we get this situation to stabilize," Chambers said.
Chambers added that the area remained too hot Sunday night for crews to get inside and inspect the facility.
There was no one inside the facility when the fire started and no one was injured by the flames.
Chambers said there were reports that people could see the smoke plume from as far as downtown Atlanta.
The smoke reportedly caused flight patterns to change at Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport.
Given that the fire was contained to the building, no evacuations were necessary, Chambers said.
Power to the building has been cut, and crews stayed on scene overnight because the area remains too hot for firefighters to enter.
Officials said the plumes of heavy black smoke and falling debris are affecting surrounding neighborhoods and businesses.
Public safety officials said the smoke plume is not toxic, but it can still irritate the eyes and throat.
"Okay, so anytime you have smoke, there are things in there that you do not want to breathe. I don't, even if you're burning charcoal or wood in a barbecue, you don't want to breathe that smoke," Chambers said.
Anyone in the path of the smoke should stay inside, close all windows and doors, and avoid drawing outside air into their homes.
The City of South Fulton put out a smoke advisory as a large fire rages on Mallory Lane on September 6, 2026. (Credit: City of South Fulton)
People with asthma or other breathing conditions should take extra precautions.
The smoke is so intense that travelers could see it from Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport.
Videos sent to FOX 5 Atlanta showed the thick black smoke with loud popping noises arising from the area.
Residents in the Waverly Park subdivision said there is a heavy smoke smell in the air.
Officials urge everyone to avoid the area, keep roadways clear for emergency vehicles and refrain from driving toward the scene to watch.
Residents should follow traffic or evacuation orders and rely only on official city channels for updates rather than unverified social media posts.
Neighbors concerned
A neighbor said people living nearby smelled a strong chemical odor and questioned official safety claims.
"We kept trying to figure out what was this chemical like, wire smelling smell," the resident said. "And then my neighbor told me, you know, a recycling plant caught on fire."
The resident voiced ongoing worry due to the nature of the plant.
"So all kinds of chemicals can be involved in that," the neighbor said. "And then when you set it on fire, and you try to tell somebody that they’re stupid, and if you can still smell it. Pungently. Yeah, it’s a problem.
What we don't know:
The cause of the fire remains under investigation.
The Source: The information in this story was gathered from South Fulton Fire Department Assistant Chief Fire Marshal Gregory Chambers, a spokesperson for the South Fulton Fire Department, the City of South Fulton, local residents, and video provided to FOX 5 Atlanta.