A dire situation developed at a plastic recycling plant in Richmond, Indiana Tuesday afternoon.
Firefighters and multiple agencies responded to a massive fire at the plant, which reportedly stored over 1800 propane tanks that faced the risk of explosion.
According to reports, there were multiple explosions from the plant as a half-mile evacuation zone was ordered.
Over 2,000 residents had to flee the evacuation zone due to the enormous industrial fire.
A thick, black plume of smoke filled the air around the plant as emergency crews fought the blaze.
Here’s the FoxNews headline, so bad the fire could literally keep burning for days:
No big deal, just another day in Joe Biden’s America, right?
Here’s footage:
🚨#BREAKING: Urgent Evacuation Ordered as Massive Fire Engulfs Plastic Recycling Plant with over 1800 Propane Tanks at Risk
📌#Richmond | #Indiana⁰
Urgent Situation Unfolds as Firefighters and Multiple Agencies Confront Serious Fire at Plastic Recycling Center in Richmond,… pic.twitter.com/tM6jUdrwKQ— R A W S A L E R T S (@rawsalerts) April 11, 2023
We are pulling into Richmond now. The smoke from this warehouse fire is billowing out quickly into the air @WTHRcom pic.twitter.com/gZJl0M3SHu
— Rachael Krause (@RKrause_News) April 11, 2023
BREAKING NEWS | Wayne Co. EMA is asking people to evacuate or shelter in place because of a large industrial fire in the area of 358 NW F Street in Richmond. The Battalion Chief says, "all hands are on deck."
📹 Credit: Michael & Barb Lindsey pic.twitter.com/FEcnEGwgPN— WRTV Indianapolis (@wrtv) April 11, 2023
BREAKING 🚨Massive fire breaks out in a facility that is used for recycling and stores plastic and other material in Richmond, Indiana; evacuation orders issued. Those residents who are further than half mile from fire are told by authorities to shelter in place, and keep windows… pic.twitter.com/ilm20lvAYT
— Insider Paper (@TheInsiderPaper) April 11, 2023
🚨 #BREAKING UPDATE: The massive blaze is STILL ongoing at this time in Richmond, Indiana, and residents within .5 miles are still under an evacuation order***
This smoke is so thick and widespread that it’s being prominently shown on Doppler radar. pic.twitter.com/5I66LyCMtd
— Nick Sortor (@nicksortor) April 11, 2023
BREAKING:
A massive fire has engulfed what is believed to be a recycling plant in Richmond, Indiana.
There is an evacuation notice for anyone within 0.5 miles of the site.
Contents of fire are unknown but believed to be hazardous to health. pic.twitter.com/buWC2QpZYk
— Evan Kilgore 🇺🇸 (@EvanAKilgore) April 11, 2023
WTHR reported:
Wayne County Emergency Management said the fire is at 358 NW F St. in Richmond.
Richmond Mayor David Snow said the fire is at a plastics recycling processing facility. Snow said no injuries have been reported.
He told 13News the fire started in a tractor-trailer onsite and spread to the rest of the facility.
Emergency crews are asking anyone within a half-mile of the fire location to evacuate. Those outside of the half-mile radius are asked to shelter in place and turn off HVAC units.
The Indiana State Police and Wayne County Sheriff’s Department are assisting with evacuations.
A temporary shelter has been opened at Bethesda Ministries at 2200 Peacock Rd. in Richmond for those who have been displaced from the evacuation zone.
More than 2,000 residents are under evacuation orders after a fire engulfed an Indiana recycling plant, officials say.
The mayor of Richmond, Indiana, called the incident a "worst-case scenario" in a phone interview with @ABC News. https://t.co/lTmbvb4qPr pic.twitter.com/IQXvpbXVU9
— ABC News (@ABC) April 11, 2023
ABC News added:
It is unclear how harmful the smoke is, officials said. No injuries or deaths have been reported amid the fire.
As of 6:30 p.m. ET, emergency officials told ABC News that the fire has been brought under control.
Richmond Mayor Dave Snow called the incident a “worst-case scenario” in a phone interview with ABC News Tuesday, while expressing concern for the air quality in the town.
“This is something we never wanted to see happen,” Snow said.
The plant, located near the Indiana-Ohio border, processes recyclables, including plastics.
“We want everyone to limit their exposure to that black smoke and stay far away from the area,” Snow said. “Not only is it a dangerous area right now … limiting your exposure to this black smoke is the best thing for your health.”
Richmond resident Aaron Stevens told ABC News he saw a “huge pillar of smoke” and heard “explosions and pops” from his home, located roughly a half mile from the plant.
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