2006-06-14 Great Falls residents still evacuated (by STEVE LYTTLE)

Officials estimate more than 1,000 Great Falls, S.C., residents remained away from their homes Wednesday afternoon as a fire at an old textile mill continued to smoulder.

Residents were evacuated Tuesday because of fears that toxic gases could be created by materials burning at the old J.P. Stevens Mill No. 3 in the southern Chester County town.

Fire departments from Chester and Lancaster counties spent more than 12 hours putting out the blaze Tuesday at the old J.P. Stevens No. 3 plant in Great Falls. But dozens of firefighters remained on the scene today, dealing with sudden flare-ups and hot spots in the building.

The South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control announced Wednesday morning that it is testing air and water quality in the Great Falls area. In addition, the National Guard in South Carolina is protecting buildings in the evacuated region.

Many of the evacuees are staying in a Red Cross-operated shelter at Great Falls High School.

The fire started about 6 a.m. Tuesday, with several workers inside the building at the time. The workers ran across the street and asked neighbors to call firefighters.

Authorities evacuated more than 1,000 of Great Falls' 2,200-plus residents.

Many of the families stayed overnight in Great Falls-area motels, but about 100 people spent the night at a shelter set up at Great Falls High School.

WCNC-TV, the Observer's news partner, reported that firefighters encountered low water pressure problems during the day and were forced to draw some water from the nearby Catawba River. But water pressure today is reported to be good.

No injuries were reported in the blaze.