SELMA, Ala. (AP) — A fire that grew so large it showed up on weather radar has engulfed a pile of thousands of railroad ties at a recycling plant in rural west Alabama.
Fire officials say the blaze at National Salvage and Services Corp. east of Selma started Sunday evening and was still going Monday.
Smoke and fire fill the air from a blaze at National Salvage and Services Corp., on Monday, Aug. 2, 2021 near Selma, Ala. The fire that apparently started with a lightning strike and grew so large it showed up on weather radar engulfed a pile of thousands of railroad ties at a recycling plant in rural west Alabama. (Lane Frazer via AP) 
Smoke and fire fill the air from a blaze at National Salvage and Services Corp., on Monday, Aug. 2, 2021 near Selma, Ala. The fire that apparently started with a lightning strike and grew so large it showed up on weather radar engulfed a pile of thousands of railroad ties at a recycling plant in rural west Alabama. (Lane Frazer via AP) 
Smoke and fire fill the air from a blaze at National Salvage and Services Corp., on Monday, Aug. 2, 2021 near Selma, Ala. The fire that apparently started with a lightning strike and grew so large it showed up on weather radar engulfed a pile of thousands of railroad ties at a recycling plant in rural west Alabama. (Lane Frazer via AP) 
Smoke and fire fill the air from a blaze at National Salvage and Services Corp., on Monday, Aug. 2, 2021 near Selma, Ala. The fire that apparently started with a lightning strike and grew so large it showed up on weather radar engulfed a pile of thousands of railroad ties at a recycling plant in rural west Alabama. (Lane Frazer via AP)
No one was hurt, but the company says it’s still not sure how much was lost. Valley Grand Volunteer Fire Chief Billy Barrett says lightning apparently started the fire.
Barrett says fire crews eventually had to get away because it got so big and hot. Barrett says the fire could burn for days.