News-Argus/Bobby Williams

Spontaneous combustion was blamed for a fire at the Tri-County Cotton Gin near Summerlin's Crossroads in north central Duplin County on Wednesday. Volunteers from the Oak Wolfe Volunteer Fire Department, with help from firefighters from the Pleasant Grove and Calypso departments, spent all day at the scene, after receiving the emergency call soon after 7 a.m. Firefighters, shown taking a break at right, remained at the gin until 9 p.m. to ensure that all "hot spots" had been eliminated. No damage report was available.