MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Emergency crews had their hands full with a fire at a plant in South Memphis.
The building on Deadrick Avenue reportedly houses the BioEnergy Development Group, which appears to be part of the oil refining industry.
According to the Memphis Fire Department, crews arrived on the scene around 4:15 a.m. Wednesday after a tank in the back of the property caught on fire. It was extinguished about 45 minutes later and no one was injured.
Authorities said the tower – which normally stores a biodiesel product made from cooking oil and used vegetable oil – had been emptied and there was very little product inside when the fire started. No hazardous material was involved.
According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency, the company had a high priority violation in the spring 2020. They paid a state and local fine of nearly $5,000 and settled the issue as of January.
They also paid a federal fine in October 2017 of more than $2,000 for another incident.
In March 2016, WREG reported another fire at the plant. At the time, workers told us they have fires quite a bit.
The EPA also cited the plant in 2014 for not properly handling waste, reporting from the time revealed.