A massive fire erupted at the old Aberdeen Packing and Produce on Sycamore Street on Friday afternoon. Flames were visible from Highway 15-501 nearby, and the downtown Aberdeen area was shrouded in a haze of smoke while firefighters worked to control the fire.
Shortly after 2 p.m., first responders received a call alerting them to a fire at 426 S Sycamore Street. The small fire quickly erupted into a rolling inferno and created a column of smoke that could be seen from miles away.
Fire departments from across Moore County responded to the scene in an attempt to battle the blaze. The intensity of the fire required additional units and heavy equipment, including an aerial ladder, to combat the flames from above.
According to authorities on the scene, no one was present at the time of the fire, and no one was injured. The cause is still under investigation at this time.
The fire reached third alarm status, and additional units were called in from Hoke County to allow a crew rest for Moore County firefighters who had been working for over two hours.
Areas up to two miles away felt the effects of the fire, with a haze of smoke blanketing parts of Aberdeen and Pinebluff. The effects are expected to linger through the evening.
Photos and video by Sandhills Sentinel reporter Patrick Priest.
~Written by Sandhills Sentinel reporter Abegail Murphy.
