A number of units remain on the scene of a large warehouse fire off Highway 77 in Attalla.

The blaze began around midday Monday, and quickly spread throughout the 275,000 square foot facility, located at 600 Bill Austin Drive.  Fire departments from across Etowah County and surrounding areas were dispatched to fight the fire.

Gadsden/Etowah EMA officials requested assistance from Cherokee County with units from the Spring Creek, Spring Garden, Leesburg, McCords, Ellisville, Broomtown, Tuckers Chapel and Mt. Weisner departments all responding, in addition to Cherokee County EMA officials.

Tuesday morning – WEIS Radio News spoke with the Gadsden/Etowah County EMA Public Information Officer, Breonna Cole about the situation:

Cole says the cause of the fire has yet to be determined, and the contents of that warehouse proved to make firefighting efforts difficult:

Those wishing to help out by donating Gatorade, water or food items to the first responders are being asked NOT to bring those items to the site itself but instead take them to the drop off center set up at the Carnes Rec Center in Attalla, located at 102 Case Avenue Southeast – phone (256) 538-3712.  Highway 77 remains closed from Case Avenue to Highway 11.

Cole says for updates around the clock from the Gadsden/Etowah County EMA you can visit their Facebook page.

Attalla City Schools were closed today (Tuesday) due to the lack of water supply; however, all 240 day employees were instructed to report to work as usual.  Classes are expected to resume tomorrow.

We’ll continue to follow this story as it develops.

(Additional information and photos courtesy of AL.COM/www.al.com)