Poly-America faces fires at two locations

Grand Prairie, Texas-based Poly-America LP reportedly has experienced fires at two different production sites this summer. The company converts polyethylene plastic scrap into new products.

According to a news item posted to the Industrial Equipment News (IEN) website, a late August fire at the company’s Chester, South Carolina, Carolina Poly facility started in a scrap storage area near the plant. IEN says that blaze “could be seen for miles,” and five firefighters on the scene required medical care because of either heat exhaustion or, in one case, a sprained ankle.

The fire burned plastic scrap, wooden pallets and also “destroyed dozens of tractor-trailers parked outside of the plant,” according to IEN.

About a week before the Carolina Poly fire, the Fort Worth Star-Telegram reported on what it called a “massive” fire at Poly-America’s facility in Grand Prairie.

No injuries were reported in that fire, which may have been caused by a power line collapsing or sagging onto a storage area holding plastic sheeting.

Video clips of that fire can be found on this Star-Telegram web page.

On its website, Poly-America describes itself as “the most technologically advanced and largest recycler and compounder of polyethylene in the world.” The company manufactures garbage bags, agricultural films, drop cloths and other polyethylene film and sheet products.

In addition to the plants in Grand Prairie and Chester, Poly-America says it also has facilities in Cottage Grove, Minnesota; Henderson, Nevada; and Mont Belvieu, Texas.