Fire prompts employees to evacuate Amazon Fulfillment Center

HUNTSVILLE, Ala. (WAFF) - At 9:00 p.m. on Monday night first responders were at the HSV1 Amazon Fulfillment Warehouse on Greenbrier Road in reference to a structure fire.

According to an employee of Amazon, the fire is in what they called the “OP” part of the building, which is located in the middle of the warehouse on the first floor.

The employee, along with a co-worker, said they saw the flames as they were exiting the building, from the third level, but did not see the flames as they went outside.

Employees were informed that the top two floors are covered in smoke as they wait outside they are offered blankets to keep warm.

Amazon spokesperson Alisa Carroll released the following statement about the fire:

“There was a small isolated fire in our Huntsville fulfillment center Monday evening. All employees were safely evacuated and accounted for, and we’re grateful to the local fire department for their swift response.”

According to the employee, their co-workers are calm and wondering if this fire will put them out of work. He says they are sitting close and ‘chilling out.’

Responders with Huntsville Fire and Rescue have multiple units on the scene and are advising people to avoid the area.

As of 10:19 p.m., the employees are being sent home.

Following the employees’ departure, their employer sent out the following message shortly after midnight which reads:

“This message is for all employees scheduled who work at HSV1 on Tuesday, Sept. 27th. Thank you for your patience as we work to reopen the building after our temporary closure from fire damage. Your safety is our top priority, so the site will remain closed for all operations on day shift Tuesday, Sept. 27. Further guidance on the site reopening will be coming out on the afternoon of Tuesday, Sept. 27th. You will be paid in full while the site is temporarily closed.”

Another message was sent Tuesday afternoon to update the employee’s about their schedules which reads:

“Hello HSV1 Rockets! Thank you for your patience as we work to reopen the building after our temporary closure from fire damage. Night shift for tonight, 9/27, will not operate. Tomorrow, 9/28, neither day shift nor night shift will operate. We will provide you with an update each day by 5:00 p.m. with details about the following day. Again your safety is our top priority. Thank you for your patience as leaders work to determine the safest time for reopening. As a reminder, you will be paid for all scheduled hours until we reopen. Please note, it may take time for your AtoZ to update and reflect accurately. Thank you.”

The cause of the fire and extent of the damage has not been determined.

This story will be updated once there is more information.

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