Residents of Richmond, Indiana, flee after a massive fire broke out at a plastic recycling plant, despite the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) saying it detected no toxic chemicals.
Large columns of black smoke rose into the sky in Richmond on Tuesday afternoon after a semi-trailer truck caught fire, which in turn set fire to the My Way Trading Warehouse, which stored plastic and recycled materials.
Indiana Fire Marshal Steve Jones speculated that the fire would be “definitely” toxic and could potentially burn for days. This caused authorities to establish a half-mile evacuation zone running from Lincoln Street to Sheridan Street.
After hearing the news, resident Brenda Jerrell, who lives in the evacuation zone, got into her car and left.
“We fled,” she said RTV6 reporter Rafael Sanchez. “I just jumped in my car and left.”
Resident Brenda Jerrell (pictured) was in the middle of the evacuation zone after a fire broke out at a nearby factory. She said she immediately left without even taking her bag or shoes with her. “I just jumped in my car and left the area,” she said
Large columns of black smoke rose into the sky in Richmond on Tuesday afternoon after a semi-trailer truck caught fire, which in turn set fire to a nearby building that stored plastic and recycled materials
Jerrell noted that the “odor was mild” on Wednesday as the wind forced the plumes of smoke in a different direction, but on Tuesday she took no chances as she left her home with no shoes or bag.
‘[I] locked the door,” she said. “We’re in the middle of the evacuation zone.”
She was concerned because authorities “told us they don’t know what was burning and irritation could ensue.”
The EPA — which arrived on the scene around 8 p.m. Tuesday and monitors air quality 24 hours a day — said it has not yet detected any toxic chemicals in Richmond.
Despite that, Jones is still concerned that the fumes from the plastic could become toxic.
“Plastics release a wide variety of chemicals when they burn, and that’s worrying,” he said at a news conference.
The city has set an evacuation zone half a mile from the blaze, though Jones says the quarantined area could change depending on the direction of the wind. For those just outside the zone, residents have been asked to shelter in place.
It currently affects about 2,000 residents.
Indiana Fire Marshal Steve Jones speculated that the fire would be “definitely” toxic
Although the fire is under control, it could burn for days, according to Jones
The fiery plume can be seen from afar
A large plume of smoke can be seen from miles away
In addition, authorities are asking all residents in surrounding areas who smell smoke to remove themselves from the area or wear an N95 mask.
The cause of the fire is still unknown. The fire broke out around 2:40 p.m. Tuesday in Richmond, between Indianapolis and Dayton, engulfing the entire facility and the black cloud of smoke was visible from more than 20 miles away.
The large plume of smoke was reminiscent of the nearby fire that occurred after the train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio, that carried hazardous chemicals and contaminated soil in February.
The Norfolk Southern train derailed in eastern Palestine on February 3 while carrying numerous hazardous materials.
Residents in the area have been pushed back and forth by local officials after initially being forced to evacuate and later told there was no cause for concern.
The spill from the train leaked pollutants into the environment and killed thousands of fish.
The large plume of smoke was reminiscent of the neighboring smoke plume created after the train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio (pictured)
The Norfolk Southern train derailed in eastern Palestine on Feb. 3 while carrying numerous hazardous materials, leaving a huge plume of smoke (pictured)
Despite widespread and ongoing concern, Norfolk Southern said in late February that “substantial contamination” in soil and water had been removed.
As of April 10, railway companies have said about 20,000 tons of contaminated soil has been removed from the derailment site.
The EPA has stated that more than 17,000 tons of toxic soil remain and have yet to be removed.
Nearly 10 million liters of wastewater has also been removed from the derailment site.
The truck carrying soil contaminated by the East Palestinian train derailment overturned Monday afternoon in Columbiana County, releasing 20,000 pounds of toxic soil.
According to local authorities and the Ohio EPA, the truck was carrying 40,000 pounds of contaminated soil from the derailment site at the time.
Despite dumping thousands of pounds of contaminated soil along the roadway, the Ohio State Highway Patrol said, “the spill was contained and poses no threat to nearby waterways.”