DUNN, N.C. (WNCN) – It could be days before a massive fire at a wood pallet company in Sampson County stops burning. 

Dozens of firefighters from six counties responded to flames outside Discount Pallet Service on Ira B. Tart Road just after 4 p.m. on Tuesday. The fire burned nearly 15 acres, including trees in a nearby wooded area. The Plain View Fire Department arrived first on the scene, and found many wood pallets stacked 15 to 20 feet high on fire. 

“The wind was kicking up on it. It started pushing it towards the tree line,” Assistant Chief Brian Lupo with the Plain View Fire Department said. 

He said the hot weather, dry ground, and wind made the fire tough to fight. Fire crews just focused on containing the flames and keeping them away from buildings and nearby homes. The chief said it was also a challenge getting enough water from area fire hydrants to spray on this massive blaze. It forced fire trucks to use alternative water sources like ponds on farms. 

“Once you start pulling massive amounts of water and we are talking tens of thousands of gallons at a time within minutes, it just overstresses the system,” Lupo said. 

Fire investigators have no clue as to how the fire started. 

“No eyewitnesses or anything that I know of that can shed some light on it,” the assistant chief said. 

However, investigators said there have been at least three fires at Discount Pallet Service in recent years. 

“We want to sit down and have an after-action meeting. We want to talk about how we can make this better. Is there anything we can do? What can we do? Do we need to just go sit over there and have an education time from the fire and just talk to them, and say, ‘hey, maybe these things will help,’” Chief Lupo said. 

CBS 17 reached out to Discount Pallet Service for comment. Representatives of the company told our reporter that the company has nothing to do with the fire and instructed our reporter to leave their property. 

The Plain View Fire Department is keeping an eye on hot spots until the fire is fully extinguished. The chief said it could be a week or longer before it is completely out. 

Chief Lupo said he’s grateful for all the fire departments, law enforcement, and residents who provided service and food as they tackled the fire for nearly eight hours.