A fire at a chemical plant in Akron, Ohio, prompted evacuations and a HAZMAT response.
“A black plume of smoke billowed over Rosemary Boulevard Thursday in East Akron as Koki Laboratories went up in flames, prompting a mass evacuation of area businesses and homes,” Akron Beacon Journal wrote.
“The presence of various chemicals, large amounts of propane tanks, and other explosive materials inside the plant has made the situation extremely dangerous,” Rawsalerts noted.
“We’re putting our firefighters in jeopardy by keeping them in there because the fire is being fed by everything inside. The building is expected to explode, and there’s a risk of it going ‘big boom he said so far no injuries have been reported but they are keeping a very close eye on the situation,” the fire chief stated, according to Rawsalerts.
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🚨#BREAKING: Hundreds of people have been evacuated within a half-mile radius due to a massive chemical plant fire. Authorities are bracing for an explosion⁰
📌#Akron | #Ohio
⁰Currently Numerous homes and businesses within a half-mile radius have been evacuated due to a… pic.twitter.com/g0xkGYx8Kh— R A W S A L E R T S (@rawsalerts) September 5, 2024
Akron Beacon Journal reports:
Akron Fire Department District Chief Sierjie Lash said that methanol, propane and xylene were inside the facility.
The fire department indicated a “small explosive sound” that was heard just before 3 p.m. triggered the evacuation of a half-mile area around the building. At one point, the dark, thick smoke could be spotted as far away as Stow, Medina and southern Stark County.
The evacuation was lifted at 8 p.m., but authorities were still urging people Friday afternoon to stay away from the plant on Rosemary Boulevard.
“Any time there is smoke in the air, it affects air quality,” Akron Fire Chief Leon Henderson said during a press conference Friday afternoon.
Henderson also mentioned the possibility of another explosion as crews continue to work to put the fire out.
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Akron Fire still on scene fighting the chemical fire on Rosemary Boulevard. You could see the smoke plume for miles and even @JeffTanchak19 could track it on his weather radar. pic.twitter.com/hNxspfE17w
— Dan Stamness (@DStamness) September 6, 2024
RIGHT NOW: Fire crews still spraying water from 3 different angles on chemical plant in Akron. Fire broke out just after 1 p.m. YESTERDAY. We’re following the latest. Join us on @WEWS GMC.
https://t.co/Gpuol7ryIv pic.twitter.com/eXwbPd0QyW
— Mike Holden (@MikeHoldenNews) September 6, 2024
“There was some confusion about the name of the business involved. After the press conference, the City of Akron confirmed its SMB Products,” News 5 Cleveland noted.
The smoke was reportedly thick enough to be detected on radar.
Large chemical plant fire near Akron, Ohio now showing up on radar pic.twitter.com/UKEZQhS7jC
— Storm Chaser Je☈emy🌪️ (@Jeremy_OHWX) September 5, 2024
According to reports, one firefighter was injured and transported to a nearby hospital.
From News 5 Cleveland:
Around 3 p.m., residents in the area were evacuated and transported to community centers away from the fire.
Close to 10,000 people, including 1,000 children under the age of 5, reside within a one-mile radius of the site.
The evacuation zone was about half a mile around the building and encompassed multiple residential neighborhoods.
Around 8 p.m., the evacuation ban was lifted after the EPA found the air quality was within normal limits, Akron Fire said. Utilities are also being returned.
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