Richmond fire completely extinguished; residents still need to take precautions

RICHMOND, Ind. — Just after 2:30 p.m. Thursday, Richmond Fire Department (RFD) Chief Tim Brown was “happy to say” the My Way Trading fire was at least 90 percent extinguished and expected 98-99 percent of it to be out by that night or Friday morning at the latest.

At approximately 8:45 p.m. Thursday, RFD completely extinguished the fire.

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“I would really like to thank our firefighters for what they’ve done,” Brown said during a Thursday afternoon press conference. “They’ve done a remarkable job keeping this fire on the complex itself and not letting it extend past that.”

RFD contained the fire to the 13.8-acre, six-building property — all of which Brown said has been consumed by the fire — but that doesn’t mean Richmond residents are completely safe yet.

The half-mile evacuation zone and shelter-in-place order are still in effect, and there is still no timetable for when residents can return to their homes.

Wayne County Health Department Director Christine Stinson stressed that if you see or smell smoke, you should stay inside, close doors and windows, turn off HVAC units and limit outdoor activities. If you need to be outside, you should wear a mask; the health department has free N95 masks for community members.

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“Those are put in place for the safety and protection of our community,” Stinson said of the city orders. “If you’re smelling smoke, if you’re seeing smoke, then you’re in that plume. Today was a perfect example. That plume shifted a little bit (due to a change in wind), and people who may have not experienced the smoke all of a sudden were experiencing the smoke.”

That smoke, considerably less than what loomed over the city the previous two days, is still dangerous. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has 34 locations around Richmond of roving personnel collecting air samples. As of Thursday’s press conference, they have taken 721 measurements, all containing particulate matter (dust, dirt, soot, etc.).

They also detected volatile organic compounds in the air at the fire site. These are chemicals found in gasoline, cleaners, polishes and other common products, but they are dangerous to inhale. EPA Representative Jason Sewell emphasized that those chemicals were only found in the air at the fire site, not outside the half-mile evacuation zone. EPA is currently running tests for the air quality around Reid Health to get a better idea of the air quality most residents are breathing in now. Those results are expected to be ready Friday.

Another concern of EPA is debris that’s being found in areas downwind of the original black smoke plume. One of those pieces of debris tested positive for chrysotile asbestos. If you find debris in your yard, Sewell said the “worst thing you can do” is mow over it, which would break it up and send the materials airborne. He said you should leave it alone until EPA releases instructions on outdoor cleanup.

As well as the air, community members have voiced concerns about if the water quality has been contaminated. Based on Richmond Sanitary District testing, the answer to that question is no. Director Pat Smoker said there haven’t been any noticed changes in the water treatment plant influent. The sanitary district has tested nearby rivers, and all samples came back normal with no big differences between upstream and downstream sites. Results for organic and metal testing haven’t come out yet, but no dead fish have been found in the rivers.

There was one more minor injury Wednesday night, as an assisting Dublin firefighter was “overcome by heat.” He was treated and released on scene.

Richmond Mayor Dave Snow commended RFD and surrounding fire departments for their “phenomenal job” containing the fire and thanked the citizens for the support shown over the last few days.

“We are a resilient community, we’re a community of solidarity and every time we get into a difficult time here in Richmond, we all come together and help each other,” Snow said. “It’s been very heartwarming to see everyone lending a hand, helping out and supporting one another through this.”

Information for displaced residents

You can find a list of resources (food, shelters, toiletries, etc.) at richmondindiana.gov. If you don’t have internet, you can call the community hotline at 973-9300.

Sheltering is available at Oak Park Pentecostals Church (1920 Chester Blvd). It is staffed and run by the Red Cross. Food and drinks are served. If you need transportation to this shelter, call 973-9300.

If you need assistance with sheltering your dog, call Abington Pines Dog Boarding at (765) 855-1000. Your dog must be up to date on shots, and you must provide your dog with food.

If you need to get essential items from home (medication, clothes, etc.), call 973-9399 to arrange an escort. You will be given instructions to meet an officer at the Dollar General on NW 5^th Street, and they will escort you to your home. You will have a short time to retrieve your essential items before being escorted out. You will be required to wear an N95 mask during transit.

Zach Piatt is a reporter for The Palladium-Item. Contact him at zpiatt@gannett.com or on Twitter @zachpiatt13.

This article originally appeared on Richmond Palladium-Item: Richmond fire extinguished; residents still must take precautions