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Firefighters put out blaze at former algae biofuel warehouse in Forsyth County
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Forsyth County Fire Department firefighters work to douse a fire at Algae Energy Inc., at 2460 Industrial Park Blvd., on Monday, Feb. 24, 2020. - photo by Ben Hendren

Update (2:54 p.m.):  A fire damaged the warehouse of a former algae biofuel company in a Forsyth County industrial park Monday, officials said.

Dispatchers received a call around 6:30 a.m. about a fire at 2460 Industrial Park Blvd. by someone passing the area. Crews found a "sizable" working fire burning inside an 18,880-square-foot, two-story commercial building, according to Forsyth County Fire Department Division Chief Jason Shivers.

About 50 personnel worked to successfully contain and put out the blaze at the height of the operation, Shivers said. Officials feel "comfortable" that no one was inside the building. 

One firefighter was injured and taken to the hospital but is "fine and in stable condition," Shivers said.

The building was transitioning tenants, according to Shivers. Its most recent occupant was Algae Energy Inc., a subsidiary of Australia-based Algae.Tec Ltd. Algae Energy focused on fabrication, research and development for Algae.Tec's range of biofuels that are created from algae. The company moved to Forsyth County in April of 2011 and expanded another 51,000 square feet in 2012.

Shivers said they aren't sure what materials were being stored in the building as some areas have collapsed and are inaccessible. An investigation will take several days, he said.


Original story (11:10 a.m.): Firefighters are working to put out a blaze at the warehouse of an algae biofuel company in a Forsyth County industrial park, officials said.

Crews are battling the fire at Algae Energy Inc.'s facility at 2460 Industrial Park Blvd., in south Forsyth, according to Forsyth County Fire Department Division Chief Jason Shivers.

Algae Energy Inc. focuses on fabrication, research and development for Australia-based Algae.Tec Ltd., which produces a range of biofuels, including diesel and jet, from algae. The company moved into a 20,000-square-foot facility in April of 2011 and added another 51,000 square feet in 2012.

This story will be updated.

20200224_AlgaeFire_2_web
Forsyth County firefighters work to douse a fire at Algae Energy Inc. at 2460 Industrial Blvd. on Monday, Feb. 24, 2020. - photo by Ben Hendren