Firefighters worked throughout the night and early morning to put out a fire that rose above the Newberry skyline.

Just before midnight, firefighters were called to Southeastern Pallet Company where numerous pallets were on fire.

The plant is located between Cline, Epting, and Fair streets behind Newberry Elementary and beside ISE.

As the Newberry City Fire Department arrived on scene with its fire trucks and tower truck, additional firefighters from Friendly were quickly summoned. The two departments were joined later by Prosperity firefighters and a number of volunteers from Whitmire, Bush River and departments throughout the county.

The S.C. Forestry also responded with bulldozers.

Around 1:30 a.m., Newberry Fire Chief Keith Minick said the fire was mostly contained.

Firefighters remained on the scene until around 8 this morning.

The cause of the fire, and damage estimates were not known at press time.

Minick said numerous pallets burned, and it appeared that at least one tractor portion of a tractor-trailer truck burned.

A concern throughout the night was Newberry County Rescue Squad and EMS personnel to setting up recon stations where firefighters were able to keep hydrated, and cool down from the high temperatures combined with heavy turnout gear and the heat of the flames.

Fire and Newberry police crews will be at the scene throughout the day investigating last night’s fire. However, at press time, officials did not suspect foul play.

“Not from what we’ve gathered at this point, but we can’t rule anything out,” said Newberry Police Lt. Kevin Atkins when asked if the fire was suspicious.

Atkins added there was a break-in at Southeastern Pallet several weeks ago. That case has yet to be solved.

The last big fire at the plant was in September 2005.

Staff Writer Leslie Moses contributed to this story.