SOUTH CAROLINA — Flint Hill Elementary School in Fort Mill was closed Thursday after officials reported a second chemical-related incident this week at the nearby Silfab Solar manufacturing plant.
York County Emergency Management said crews responded to the facility after an issue involving hydrofluoric acid was reported. The plant is located just a few hundred yards from the Flint Hill Elementary campus, separated only by a tree line along the property boundary.
School district officials said the school was closed out of an abundance of caution, although authorities indicated there was no danger to the surrounding community or the school itself.
Parents reported being turned away while attempting to drop off students Thursday morning due to what officials described as an “active incident” at the plant. Students who were already on school buses were transported to Pleasant Knoll Middle School, where parents were instructed to pick them up after verifying identification.
York County officials said they were aware of the situation and were coordinating with the South Carolina Department of Environmental Services, which serves as the regulatory agency overseeing the facility.
“We are incredibly disappointed that another issue at Silfab Solar has occurred,” York County said in a statement. “We will continue to work with the South Carolina Department of Environmental Services in their role as the regulatory agency and support their investigation however possible.”
The latest incident comes just two days after a separate chemical spill at the plant involving potassium hydroxide. That event prompted state environmental officials to temporarily halt operations at the facility while investigators examined the cause.
Officials said the earlier spill was contained within the plant’s designed safety systems and did not pose a health risk to the public.
Despite those assurances, the incidents have raised concerns among some parents and community members who have opposed the plant’s proximity to local schools.
Authorities said the situation at the plant remains under investigation. No injuries have been reported, and officials continue to monitor the facility as the inquiry moves forward.
