The Recycling plant in Richmond, Indiana is on fire and had been cited for safety issues

Environmental and Public Health Concerns following a Fire in a Former Factory in the Indianapolis-Ohio Interstellar Medium in July 2005

A fire broke out in a former factory in the city of 35,000 people 70 miles east of Indianapolis. The state’s border is with Ohio.

Authorities ordered the evacuation of people within a half-mile of the site on Tuesday and told others nearby to shelter in place. The response included local, state and federal agencies, including the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

Richmond Mayor Dave Snow said Wednesday that city officials “were aware that what was operating here was a fire hazard” and accused the plant’s owner of ignoring a city order to clean up the property.

At a Wednesday morning news conference, the EPA’s Jason Sewell said agency staff were checking for volatile organic compounds that can be released when plastic burns.

Respiratory issues, such as bronchitis, and burning and irritated Eyes, are the primary health concerns for anyone who may come in contact with the fire. They warned that people with pre-existing respiratory conditions should be cautious.

Residents were also warned not to touch any debris they might come across from the factory. Sewell said that due to the age of the building, some of the debris could contain asbestos, which can cause lung cancer and other illnesses.

The Fire and Code Violations at the Richmond Recycling Plant: A Safety-Preserving Operation and a Safety-Peculiar Event

Agencies are testing the local water supply, as well as attempting to minimize the flow of fire water into the city’s storm drain and surface water.

Snow, the mayor, said the city’s Unsafe Building Commission had previously ordered the property owner to clean up the site but said that the owner ignored the order.

“We were aware that what was operating here was a fire hazard, so this was a fear for us and why we’ve taken so many steps to prevent this from happening,” the mayor said.

“Everything that’s ensued here — the fire, the damages, the risks that our first responders have taken and the risks that these citizens are under — are the responsibility of that negligent business owner,” Snow said.

People who were affected by the fire were encouraged to shelter in place and to keep their windows and doors closed.

“I happened to look out my window and I seen the smoke rolling and it almost looked like a storm was brewing,” Richmond resident Alicia Rhoades told WRTV.

It was unclear when it would be safe for people to return to the evacuated area, authorities said, as the fire was still burning and they were awaiting more air quality testing results.

Richmond Community Schools were closed on Wednesday, and trash collection was suspended after officials closed a nearby landfill to protect workers from smoke exposure.

The authorities said that the fire could continue to burn for several days because of the nature of the fire and material that was burning.

State Fire Marshal Steve Jones said the fire was “fast-growing” due to the plastics on site and he praised the responding firefighters for keeping the blaze contained.

Richmond Fire Chief Tim Brown estimated Wednesday morning that 13.5 acres of the 14-acre property, with both indoor and outdoor areas, had caught fire.

The local leaders had been raising concerns about the recycling plant’s fire safety and code violations since at least 2019.

The Environmental Protection Agency is conducting around-the-clock air quality monitoring due to concerns that the fire, which has been burning since Tuesday afternoon, may be releasing debris contaminated with asbestos and toxic chemicals from the incinerated plastics.

In 2019, the city’s Unsafe Building Commission found that the “cumulative effect of the code violations present” rendered “the premises unsafe, substandard, or a danger to the health and safety on the public,” according to meeting minutes obtained by CNN.

According to the records, the plant owner admitted that one of the buildings on the property did not have a fire extinguishing system.

CNN reached out to Smith for comment but did not receive a response. The attorney that was previously represented by Smith didn’t want to comment.

The Wayne County Department of Fire and Public Works finds no Toxic Chemicals in a Semitrailer Associated with a Firefighter

The fire began in a semitrailer loaded with plastics and then spread to surrounding piles of recyclables before eventually reaching the building, which was “completely full from floor to ceiling and from wall to wall,” Brown, fire chief, said. The access roads that firefighters had to use were blocked because of the piles of plastic.

The plant owner and his company petitioned for a court to review the city building commission order to repair or demolish Smith’s properties in 2019.

As toxins have yet to be detected, the primary health concern to residents so far is particulate matter – fine particles found in smoke – that could cause respiratory problems if inhaled, Wayne County Health Department Executive Director Christine Stinson said.

If you see smoke or experience symptoms, you should not be in an area, as the N95 masks could be used to protect you.

The EPA tested air quality in the area on Wednesday and found no evidence of toxic chemicals as of mid-Wednesday morning.

If a person is exposed to a lot of toxins, it can lead to an increased risk of cancer.

Short-term symptoms could include dizziness, nausea, coughing, headache and fatigue, Peltier said. “Asthma is regularly triggered by these types of complicated exposures so if you have asthma, it’s really important to be extra careful,” he said.