Photos: Fatal fiery fertilizer warehouse crash near North Carolina border

SOUTH HILL, Va. (WNCN) — Fifteen firefighters were injured and a woman died after her car crash caused a massive fire at a fertilizer warehouse in southern Virginia Saturday, police said.

The firefighters suffered non-life threatening injuries from chemical exposure, heat exhaustion and scrapes and burns while taking on the fire that started around 2 p.m. Saturday at the Nutrien Ag Solutions facility on West Danville Street, the South Hill Volunteer Fire Department said on Facebook.

The fire began when Jennifer A. Fields, 41, crashed her Ford sedan into a power pole at the Nutrien Ag building, South Hill police said. Fields later died and police said “speed was a factor” in the wreck.

The injured firefighters were flown to a local hospital with one admitted to the hospital. Crews were still battling hotspots on Sunday morning in the Mecklenburg County, Virginia town about 10 miles north of the North Carolina line.

In the crash that started the fire, the car involved hit a power pole and a propane tank that ruptured, shooting flames into the building, according to CBS affiliate WTVR and the News Progress newspaper.

Police said part of the building also fell on the woman’s car.

Sunday evening, fire officials said at the peak of the fire 156 firefighters were on scene along with 74 units.

“Extreme temperatures, high humidity, and a fire driven by a propane tank created a very dangerous situation,” South Hill fire officials said.

Fire officials recommended those near the area evacuate voluntarily and asked people to avoid the area and take shelter. By Saturday morning, the fire was out and everyone was allowed back home.

The Virginia Department of Emergency Management was monitoring the air quality and the area after runoff from the fire entered nearby creeks, the fire department said.

“Cleanup will take weeks for our agencies and an extended period of time for the property,” the fire department said.

The woman whose car crashed at the warehouse was sent to VCU Medical Center in Richmond for treatment of burns, according to WRIC.

“This community pulled together for a historic downtown fire and loss of Nutren Ag Solutions. A very tragic event to say the least. We will never be able to repay or express our gratitude,” the South Hill Volunteer Fire Department wrote on Sunday

WRIC and The Associated Press contributed to this report .

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