In Indiana, a waste processing plant is on fire: the population is evacuated due to toxic smoke

A massive fire emitting toxic smoke at a waste treatment plant in eastern Indiana forced the evacuation of about 2000 people. It is expected to burn for several days, reports CNN.

Photo: IStock

The first air monitoring results are due on April 12, according to Wayne County officials. Plastics were among the items burning at the Richmond plant, and the smoke -- a thick black plume that rose from the site -- is "definitely toxic," Indiana State Fire Chief Steve Jones said at a briefing.

“There are a lot of different chemicals that plastics release when they burn and that is a concern,” Jones said on the evening of April 11, adding that he expects the fire to last for several days.

City officials "knew that what they were working with was a fire hazard," Richmond Mayor Dave Snow said on April 12.

On the subject: In Ohio, a train with chemicals derailed: a clinic will be opened at the scene of the accident for residents affected by toxins

An evacuation order for residents within 800 meters of the fire has been put in place, Jones said, and authorities could change it if the wind direction changes. Residents on the leeward side of the evacuation zone—to the east and northeast—are being urged to shelter in place and bring pets indoors. About 35 people live in the city about 000 km east of Indianapolis.

Residents who find traces of the fire in their yards have been asked to "don't touch the wreckage."

"It is not known what chemicals may be in the wreckage," Wayne County Emergency Management officials said.
The cause of the Indiana fire was not immediately known and probably won't be found out until the fire is put out, officials said.

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According to Richmond Fire Chief Tim Brown, on April 11, firefighters arrived at the recycling facility and found a trailer on fire behind one of the factory's blazing buildings. According to Brown, the trailer was loaded with "an unknown type of plastic" and the fire spread to other piles of plastic around the trailer and eventually to the building.

The evacuation order affected about 2000 residents, the Wayne County Office of Emergency Management said. Officials said they are waiting for the results of aerial monitoring testing to determine the duration of the evacuation order.

“We do not expect the evacuation order to be lifted tonight,” Snow said April 12. “If necessary, the bus will remain on site, and shelters are ready to accommodate citizens from the area.”

The massive fire prompted the Richmond School District to cancel all classes on April 12, with officials urging faculty and staff to follow self-isolation orders and saying there would be no online classes.

"It's a big enough fire that just can't be put out tonight," Jones said. “It will burn for a while.”

The Environmental Protection Agency and the Indiana Department of Environmental Protection were on site "evaluating any potential hazards posed by the fire," Snow said in a Facebook post. Firefighters were having trouble accessing the facility due to a pile of plastic blocking access roads, Brown said.

“This is quite a challenge because we only have access to one side of the building,” he added.

“Once the fire got out of hand, it darkened and we retreated very quickly and then went into defensive mode,” Brown said.

The flames spread to several buildings at the site, but crews were able to stop the fire from spreading before it spread to residential areas, Brown said.

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“This is possibly the biggest fire I have seen in my entire career,” Brown said.

One firefighter was injured after a fall and injured his ankle, Brown said, after which he was treated and released from the hospital. No other injuries were reported.

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