An excavator makes its way toward the Buy A Truck Plant in LaFayette. The excavator was used to knock out the back wall of the plant, so that firefighters could put the fire out.
LaFayette City Manager David Hamilton prepares for interviews with the Chattanooga Times Free Press and News Channels 3, 9, and 12 in front of the Buy A Truck Plant in LaFayette that caught on fire at 10 a.m. Friday, Feb. 26.Two people were critically injured today after a fire broke out at the Buy A Truck Plant in LaFayette.
“The fire started at 10 a.m.,” said LaFayette Police Chief Bengie Clift. “LaFayette firefighters and police officers, Walker County firefighters, Walker County State Prison, the city of Summerville, Catoosa County firefighters, Puckett EMS, the LaFayette Water Department and the LaFayette Electric Department all responded to the scene. They are working on runoff right now. The fire is not out, but it’s contained right now. We mainly keep the road clear and let the fire departments work.”
According to LaFayette Assistant Police Chief James Stacey Meeks, an excavator was brought in to take down part of a wall in the back to make sure hot spots of the fire are out.
“We do have the fire contained,” said LaFayette City Manager David Hamilton. “There’s a significant fire on the southeast side of the building. And likely other smoldering fires inside. Ten employees were taken to the hospital and two were critical.”
The Buy A Truck Plant makes foam mats and distributes hardwood or hardwood composite, Hamilton said.