UPDATE | November 25, 2022 (WJBF) – The fire at a processing plant in Saluda, has been extinguished.

The company released to NewsChannel 6 Friday morning:

On Nov. 24, a fire broke out at the Darling Ingredients Ward, South Carolina facility. The fire has been extinguished. There were no injuries. The cause of the fire is currently under investigation. We deeply regret that this incident has occurred. Our top priority is the safety and wellbeing of our employees, contractors and the community. We greatly appreciate the swift response of the local emergency responders. We are in the process of accessing the damage and determining next steps. We anticipate we are able to process the raw material at other Darling Ingredients facilities, and are working with our customers and suppliers to ensure minimal immediate service interruption. The Darling Ingredients Ward, SC plant, is essential to the poultry industry. The plant  processes poultry by-products and creates sustainable feed ingredients and feedstock for renewable diesel. The Ward plant employs about 160 people. There are no immediate plans to lay off or release any employees.

Darling Ingredients

SALUDA COUNTY, S.C. (WJBF) – According to the Saluda County Fire Service, multiple units are on the scene as they are working a commercial structure fire at Valley Proteins, Inc., on Valpro Road, which is classified as a commercial slaughterhouse, in Ward, SC.

Saluda County EMA states that they are also on-scene.

Saluda County EMA Director Joshua Morton tells WJBF the primary function of the plant at Valpro Road is processing chicken byproduct as an ingredient for pet food.

According to Saluda County EMA, the initial call for fire came in at approximately 2 P.M. on Thursday.

Authorities say that the fire was originally contained to a cooking unit, but it then moved to multiple parts of the facility, causing a potentially dangerous environment for responding fire crews.

As of 5:45 P.M., according to Saluda County EMA, the fire was under control, but units would continue to be on-scene for at least several hours as they worked to extinguish fires throughout the facility that made it difficult to do an inspection.

There was no injury or threat to employees at the Valley Proteins facility, according to Saluda County EMA Director Morton.

Authorities say that the road to the rendering plant is currently shut down.