The Augusta Fire Department fought off a fire at Gulf Coast Industrial off Laney Walker Boulevard on Saturday afternoon, sparking alarm among residents who spotted the plumes of smoke from miles away.
Emergency personnel responded at about 4 p.m. to the fire; by 5 p.m., the plume of smoke above the Gulf Coast building on Hayes Drive, just off Laney Walker, had disappeared. But crews were still tending to the fire, and Richmond County Sheriff deputies had blocked off a portion of the eastbound lane of Laney Walker Boulevard Extension.
Staff at the business have said that no one was hurt and the fire likely started from a paint sprayer exploding, triggering a secondary explosion from airborne chemicals.
According to an official statement, ASRC Industrial, the parent company of Gulf Coast Industrial, said the fire was quickly contained by local fire crews and on-site safety teams, with no injuries or threats to the community. The company emphasized that “our first priority is always the safety and well-being of our employees, the community, and the environment,” confirming that there was no evidence of hazardous chemical release.
TW Jackson, Vice President of Industrial Services, expressed gratitude for the rapid response, stating, “We are grateful for the prompt action by our safety teams and local emergency responders.”
Gulf Coast Industrial is conducting a thorough investigation in collaboration with local authorities and will keep the community updated as more information becomes available.
Just a month ago, the company posted a video on Facebook, showing the state-of-the-art operations at the Augusta industrial shop. The company called the facility the only one of its size and capabilities serving the southeast United States with 52,000 square feet and a four-acre secured yard and an interior climate-controlled spray area.
(Staff writer Greg Rickabaugh contributed to this report.)
Skyler Q. Andrews is a staff reporter covering business for The Augusta Press. Reach him at skyler@theaugustapress.com.
