By Nathan Hardin
nhardin@salisburypost.com
SALISBURY — Firefighters responded to two fires Wednesday at a rubber recycling business on Peach Orchard Road.
A sprinkler system doused the initial fire at Rubber One Recycling, 245 Peach Orchard Road off South Main Street, around 1:45 p.m.
According to South Salisbury Assistant Fire Chief Jason Burnett, the first fire began in a machine in the warehouse. The second, he said, began at about 5:15 p.m. and was isolated in one of the warehouse’s ventilation system motors. It’s unclear if the two incidents were related.
Burnett said the damage appeared minimal and there were no injuries in either case.
The owner of Rubber One Recycling, Tim Smith, declared bankruptcy on Aug. 3 owing more than $100,000 in property taxes along with an outstanding city water bill of more than $50,000.
The city considered cutting off water to two mobile home parks, Circle Drive and Matika Villa, that Smith owns on June 30. Payment from rent checks that were intercepted by the Rowan County tax office kept the water on. After filing for bankruptcy, according to city officials in August, Smith would receive his first water bill this month.
South Salisbury Fire Department was the primary department at the fire on Wednesday. Faith, Locke, Spencer, Salisbury and Bostian Heights fire departments also responded, along with Rowan County Rescue and the Rowan County Sheriff’s Office.