Air and water still safe after massive warehouse fire West Easton, officials say
The fire chief said the air and water are being monitored from several locations on-site and within the community.
WEST EASTON, Pennsylvania (WPVI) -- Fire officials say the air and water are still safe after a massive blaze resulted in a hazmat response at an industrial warehouse in West Easton, Pennsylvania.
The fire broke out around 5 a.m. Tuesday in a large warehouse along the 1500 block of Lehigh Drive.
West Easton Fire Chief William Bogari Jr. said excavators are now pulling portions of the collapsed roof off some of the plastic that burned during the fire.
Bogari said that none of the materials that burned came up on readings and are not a danger to the community.
"I've never seen anything like this before," said West Easton resident Michelle DeHaven.
DeHaven couldn't believe what she was looking at while shooting cell phone video near her home. She then realized the massive fire was ripping through an industrial warehouse.
"It felt like it was raining on us and all the debris coming down. The ash and everything," DeHaven said.
The smoke billowed into the air as the fire burned out of control for five-and-a-half hours. It was placed under control around 10:30 a.m.
Chief Bogari said they had to call in hazmat teams because of potentially toxic materials on-site. He says they have not found any threats to the community.
The chief also said the air and water supply are safe and are being monitored from several locations on-site and within the community.
"If there is any indication otherwise, we will make sure that information goes out through the 911 Center emergency management," Bogari said.
The property housed a number of businesses, including a medical waste company, a lumber yard, tractor trailers, a plastic recycling company, and a propane business.
"It's a terrible situation here today," said business owner Jeff Mesler.
Mesler's recyclable insulation business, Gladiator Fibers, is now gone.
"My son's the general manager. It's really his baby and he was in tears before. I had to give him a hug and tell him how proud I was and what a great job he did and that it's ok," Mesler said.
Bogari said the Pennsylvania State Police are leading the investigation into the cause of this fire.
Firefighters will be utilizing drones to map property with infrared technology, according to Bogari. He said they'll use that footage to find hot spots in days to come.
