A massive fire broke out at Howard Industries in Laurel on Monday, forcing employees to evacuate.
According to a press release from the city of Laurel, the fire began at an outdoor paint booth and spread to adjacent equipment, causing multiple fires at once.
The Laurel Fire Department was the first on the scene. Laurel firefighters received help from multiple city and county fire departments, including the Ellisville and Collins departments, according to the news release.
No information has been released on possible injuries, and the fire’s cause is undetermined. The fire broke out Monday afternoon and was under control by later that evening, according to reports
Howard Industries, which is based in Laurel and one of the area’s leading employers, is a manufacturer of electrical distribution transformers and technology products.
The large fire could be seen for miles. Smoke from fire at Howard’s manufacturing plant in south Laurel could be seen in Hattiesburg, about 30 miles away, according to the Hattiesburg American newspaper. Images of the large fire were posted on various social media accounts.
“The Laurel Fire Department expresses its appreciation to all departments that assisted in the operation,” the statement read.
