UPDATE from Mayor of Ripley:  The Mayor of Ripley, Jon Pavletic, says he is grateful that there is no loss of life from this morning's fire.  He says he is standing by the fire scene, just watching black smoke billow from the factory.  He also says Lauderdale County has one of the highest unemployment rates in the state and has lost hundreds of jobs to plants overseas.  He does not think there is any way the city or county can assist the plant or its employees.

Lauderdale County Economic Community, Susan Todd, says the fire broke out at around 5am this morning.

Allied Reprocessing takes old plastic from cars (light fixtures, grill work, etc.) and grinds it up into little pebbles. That in turn is sold to car companies to be re-made into plastic car parts

The company opened in 2007, in what is the "old pants factory" in Ripley.  Allied Plastics employs about 20-full time people. This is a large economic loss to the community.

The building is likely completely destroyed, although fire crews from Ripley, Lauderdale County and Tipton County are fighting the fire.  She says they cannot get enough water on it to put out the fire.

Brooke Thomas is on her way to the scene and will keep us updated as things progress.