Toxic recycling plant fire in Indiana sparks more than 2,000 evacuations

Apr 12, 2023

Karah Rucker Reporter/Producer

By Karah Rucker (Reporter/Producer), Stacey Chamberlain (Editor/Digital Producer)

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Massive plumes of toxic smoke are spewing into the skies of Indiana Wednesday morning, April 12, after a recycling plant caught fire in Richmond, Indiana, near its border with Ohio. More than 2,000 people near the site of the blaze have been told to evacuate the area as the large factory fire is expected to burn for days.

Officials say a semitrailer behind one of the plant’s buildings first caught fire before spreading to the building.

Piles of plastic were among the items burning. Indiana State Fire Marshal Steve Jones called it “definitely toxic” as officials await results from air monitors. Officials say there is a host of different chemicals that plastics give off when they are on fire, those chemicals are causing concern for residents nearby.

Residents have also been told not to touch debris if any of it lands on their property. The cause of the fire is under investigation.

This is a developing story.

Tags: toxic chemicals, building fire, Ohio, Recycling, Indiana

KARAH RUCKER: MASSIVE PLUMES OF TOXIC SMOKE ARE SPEWING INTO THE SKIES OF INDIANA THIS MORNING AFTER A RECYCLING PLANT CAUGHT FIRE IN RICHMOND INDIANA NEAR ITS BORDER WITH OHIO.

MORE THAN TWO THOUSAND PEOPLE NEAR THE SITE OF THE BLAZE HAVE BEEN TOLD TO EVACUATE THE AREA AS THE LARGE FACTORY FIRE IS EXPECTED TO BURN FOR DAYS.

OFFICIALS SAY A SEMI-TRAILER BEHIND ONE OF THE PLANT’S BUILDINGS FIRST CAUGHT FIRE BEFORE SPREADING TO THE BUILDING.

PILES OF PLASTIC WERE AMONG THE ITEMS BURNING – THE INDIANA STATE FIRE MARSHAL CALLING IT “DEFINITELY TOXIC” AS THEY AWAIT RESULTS FROM AIR MONITORS.

THOUGH OFFICIALS SAY THERE IS A HOST OF DIFFERENT CHEMICALS THAT PLASTICS GIVE OFF WHEN THEY’RE ON FIRE – CAUSING CONCERN FOR RESIDENTS NEARBY.

RESIDENTS HAVE ALSO BEEN TOLD NOT TO TOUCH DEBRIS IF ANY OF IT LANDS ON THEIR PROPERTY.

THIS IS A DEVELOPING STORY.

THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE IS UNDER INVESTIGATION.

Toxic recycling plant fire in Indiana sparks more than 2,000 evacuations

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