More Details Given in Accidental Chemical Co. Fire
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
By Siara [email protected]
According to an incident report from the state fire marshal, provided by the Indiana Department of Homeland Security, Warsaw Chemical employee Mark Holbrook was inside the building at 290 Argonne Road and witnessed the fire.
The report states that Holbrook was transferring parts and break cleaner liquid, a hexane blend. Holbrook told investigators that during this process, he heard a loud crack and popping noise and he went to investigate, but he did not find anything making the sound right away so he continued transferring liquid.
He opened a valve and fire erupted from under the totes and the tote he was transferring from. He grabbed a fire extinguisher but was unable to smother the flames, the report states. Holbrook exited the building and said he heard the fire alarms.
Reports indicate the fire suppression system in the building may not have fully deployed, according to information from Warsaw Mayor Joe Thallemer.
The Warsaw Police Department was first to report the fire when a patrolman saw smoke coming from the building. Within minutes, the Warsaw-Wayne Fire Territory arrived but no initial suppression activities were conducted, due to safety concerns.
Holbrook refused treatment once the fire department arrived. Six wastewater personnel and two firefighters were transported from the scene to Kosciusko Community Hospital.
The estimated damage from the fire was $750,000, the report states.
And though much of the 325,000 gallons of water used to put out the fire carried chemicals such as perfumes, dyes and surfactants into Winona Lake, there has been no indication of fish or wildlife impact, according to Thallemer, who said the incident should not hamper summer activities.[[In-content Ad]]
According to an incident report from the state fire marshal, provided by the Indiana Department of Homeland Security, Warsaw Chemical employee Mark Holbrook was inside the building at 290 Argonne Road and witnessed the fire.
The report states that Holbrook was transferring parts and break cleaner liquid, a hexane blend. Holbrook told investigators that during this process, he heard a loud crack and popping noise and he went to investigate, but he did not find anything making the sound right away so he continued transferring liquid.
He opened a valve and fire erupted from under the totes and the tote he was transferring from. He grabbed a fire extinguisher but was unable to smother the flames, the report states. Holbrook exited the building and said he heard the fire alarms.
Reports indicate the fire suppression system in the building may not have fully deployed, according to information from Warsaw Mayor Joe Thallemer.
The Warsaw Police Department was first to report the fire when a patrolman saw smoke coming from the building. Within minutes, the Warsaw-Wayne Fire Territory arrived but no initial suppression activities were conducted, due to safety concerns.
Holbrook refused treatment once the fire department arrived. Six wastewater personnel and two firefighters were transported from the scene to Kosciusko Community Hospital.
The estimated damage from the fire was $750,000, the report states.
And though much of the 325,000 gallons of water used to put out the fire carried chemicals such as perfumes, dyes and surfactants into Winona Lake, there has been no indication of fish or wildlife impact, according to Thallemer, who said the incident should not hamper summer activities.[[In-content Ad]]
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