Enfield, N.C. — Firefighters spent early Saturday morning bringing a fire under control at a fertilizer plant in Halifax County.  Ronny Locke, chief of the Enfield volunteer fire department, said the 18,000-square-foot Halifax Fertilizer Co. Inc., at 1107 S. Dennis St., was a total loss.

The building was engulfed in flames by 9 p.m. Friday when firefighters arrived, but no one was at work at the time and no injuries were reported. It took until about 7 a.m. for crews to get the blaze out. Locke said it would be a couple of day at least before they are able to determine a cause.

Enfield Police Chief Eddie Buffaloe said 20 people were briefly asked to leave their homes but that ultimately the fire and its aftermath posed no threat to neighbors of the plant.

"There were some chemicals, some potash, that I'm aware of. The runoff of that particular chemical is basically right here on site, and it doesn't pose any damage or harm to the citizens here in town," he said.