‘Definitely Toxic’: Massive Fire At Indiana Plastic Recycling Facility Forces Thousands To Evacuate

About 2,000 people in the surrounding area of a plastic recycling plant in Indiana were forced to evacuate due to a massive fire and toxic smoke on Tuesday. Richmond, a city of approximately 35,000 people located on the eastern edge of the state, ordered the evacuation of a portion of the city after the industrial fire broke out at a storage facility, which the mayor had previously identified as a known fire hazard.

The location had received an unsafe citation in the past due to the way they were storing materials there. The mayor added that the facility was under a city order to clean up and remediate the site, which was previously deemed a fire hazard. The Environmental Protection Agency and Indiana Department of Environmental Management were on-site evaluating any potential hazards resulting from the fire.

Those living within a half-mile radius of the factory were ordered to evacuate, and some found refuge at a local church or nearby hotels. According to the Indiana State Fire Marshal, Steve Jones, “the smoke is definitely toxic,” and the fire will burn for a few days. The facility was filled wall to wall with plastics, and the fire was avoidable. Richmond Fire Chief, Tim Brown, stated that the situation was frustrating and that they were aware of the matter they were dealing with; however, it was only a matter of time when this could happen.

The smoke from the fire was blown into Ohio and could be seen from miles away. Doppler radar detected the fire’s smoke as winds carried the plume east along I-70 into Ohio.

There were no injuries associated with the blaze initially reported, and it is unknown how long the fire will go on.