Despite the destruction caused by a massive fire on Friday night at North Davidson Garbage and Recycling Center, Bradley Everhart, co-owner of, said they will carry on.

“It will be business as usual on Monday,” Everhart said. “Recycling and trash will be picked up, it might be a little later than usual. We are going to relentlessly pursue our normal day. Probably a little watery-eyed, but we are going to try our best to go forward.”

According to Larry James, director of Davidson County Emergency Service, a call came in at approximately 6:45 p.m. from a person traveling on Old Highway 52 in Welcome that there was a fire at North Davidson Garbage and Recycling Center, located at 4157 Old U.S. Highway 52.

Everhart’s wife, Brooke, said that surveillance video showed the fire started in a pile of recyclable materials shortly after everyone had left for the day around 6 p.m.

“We have a surveillance video on the front floor so that we can see what materials come in; what might be contaminated,” Brooke Everhart said. “The video just showed it igniting in the middle of the pile. I would assume the heat had something to do with it because that is what usually causes spontaneous combustion.”

She said the building, which was destroyed, did not contain any garbage that might have contained organic materials. The facility only housed recyclable materials such as plastic, glass, metal and cardboard.

Seventeen fire departments from Davidson County and surrounding areas responded to the fire.

Several fire crews were still on the scene Saturday afternoon to make sure the fire was completely out. Welcome Fire Chief Don Crafford said due to the amount of materials inside the building, it was important to take extra precautions.

“This fire being at a recycling facility has been an extensive overhaul,” Crafford said. “We are making sure that all the fire is out. We have had crews here all day long mopping up and putting out hot spots …. Part of what we have to do before we leave a fire scene is to make sure that it is safe.”

Bradley Everhart said luckily most of their trucks were housed at a different location, so they should be able to continue to collect trash and recyclables. He said he hopes to be able to relocate employees impacted by the fire to other areas in the company or to use them to clean up.

He said that anyone who has any questions or needs more information should go to their webpage and Facebook page.

Everhart said that he is thankful that no one was hurt during the fire and is grateful for the support he and his family have received.

“It has been almost overwhelming; we didn’t even think we knew that many people,” Everhart said Saturday afternoon. “Last night (Friday), there were 17 fire departments here working their hardest. There were total strangers, friends, family and everyone was here just hugging each other. I always joke that our town is better than everyone else’s — this is why.”

Responding agencies included, Welcome Fire Department, West Lexington Fire Department, Lexington Fire Department, Midway Fire Department, Holly Grove Fire Department, North Triangle Fire Department, AR-C-H Fire Department, Thomasville Fire Department, Clemmons Fire Department, Winston-Salem Fire Department, Davidson County EMS, Davidson County Sheriff’s Department and the North Carolina Department of Transportation.

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