Smoke filled the air around Liberty last Friday afternoon, as local firefighters battled a large blaze at a local business. Fire crews were reportedly at the scene of the fire for over five hours attempting to control the blaze and keep it from spreading.

On Friday, June 9, at 3:28 p.m., the DeKalb County Fire Department was dispatched to Hickory Creek Enterprises, LLC, on Woodbury Highway (Highway 53) in Liberty for a report of a controlled burn of pallets that got out of hand due to weather conditions.

Main Station Engine 59, Liberty Station Engine 65, Tanker 1 and 2, and the DeKalb County Rehab Team responded to the scene.

Upon arrival, firefighters discovered a large pile of pallet debris had ignited and was out of control.  Fire crews worked to contain the blaze, keeping it from spreading to other areas. The fire was so intense that it destroyed a DTC fiber optics line as well as a power line with Caney Fork Electric.

The massive smoke plume from the blaze could be seen for miles around, and some residents reported having breathing difficulties from breathing the smoke and haze. With no available fire hydrants nearby, firefighters had to set up a portable water tank and shuttle water to the scene in order to battle the fire.