RICHMOND — An industrial fire at a warehouse in Richmond continued to burn Wednesday.
Smoke from the recycling plastics plant is toxic and Wayne County residents are concerned about the potential effects this could have on their health.
“I started smelling it inside the apartment, with all the door and windows closed," Tim Day said. “It was like a burning in the nose.”
The 21-year-old lives a mile and a half from the warehouse on NW F street.
His biggest concern: his seven-month-old daughter.
He and his family left town and stayed with his mom in nearby Centerville Tuesday night.
“She’s young enough where anything can cause anything. With any kinds of smells, it can cause bad problems for her. She’s already sensitive," Day said.
16-year-old Aaron Ferrell woke up to the foul smell in the air Wednesday morning.
“I live right around the corner. There’s soot all over my dad’s car and all over everyone else in the neighborhood’s car. It’s crazy. The whole thing’s crazy," Ferrell said.
The Northeastern High School student is concerned about the consequences of breathing in the smoke.
“It’s dangerous, breathing in all that soot out of that plastic," Ferrell said.
The Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM) is forecasting elevated levels of PM2.5 in the air due to the smoke.
The tiny particles are composed of microscopic dust, soot and liquid, that settle deep into the lungs and cannot be easily exhaled.
“It’s very concerning, especially with children that have asthma or any health issues," Sherri Inman said.
Inman and her daughter, Ariana, were in Richmond to run errands when the fire broke out Tuesday.
Inman says she’s already feeling its effects.
“I woke up this morning with a sore throat and a tight chest. I have lupus. Chemicals can really affect this disease. It’s an autoimmune disease," Inman said.
Inman spends a lot of time with her daughter at Glen Miller and other parks in and around Richmond.
She says with this week’s sun and warm weather, she’s concerned for the children outside playing.
“All the kids crawling around, having that soot on their hands, taking it back home with them. It’s highly toxic," Inman said.
An evacuation order for those within a half a mile radius of the site is still in place Wednesday.
Those outside the evacuation zone are to shelter in place — keep windows and doors closed, turn off HVAC units and keep pets inside.
As smoke continues to fill the air in Richmond, IDEM will monitor the air quality and weather patterns on a daily basis.
-
‘13 FIRES’: One family’s story of resilience amid turmoil along Indiana Avenue
“13 FIRES” by Curtis K. Rogers tells the story of one family's resiliency while living along Indiana Avenue in 1956.
Dominated by No.2 Ohio State for years, No. 5 Indiana has a chance for payback
If Indiana beats Ohio State and closes out the season with a win over Purdue, the Hoosiers will be in the Big Ten championship for the first time since the inception of the game in 2011.
Preparing for the political chatter around the table on Thanksgiving
IU psychology professor Edward Hirt offers insight on navigating through this first big family get-together, since an historic and polarizing election.
No. 16 Indiana remains unbeaten with 69-58 win over UNC Greensboro
Myles Rice scored 14 of his 20 points in the first half, freshman Bryson Tucker finished with a season-high 14 and No. 16 Indiana got past UNC Greensboro 69-58 on Thursday night.
