For the second time in four years, Frankfort firefighters battled a fire at R&A Plastics at the corner of Barner Street (County Road 0 North/South) and Roy Scott Parkway (County Road 200 West) late Thursday afternoon.
According to Frankfort Fire Chief John Kirby, the first engine arrived at 4:09 p.m. and reported heavy fire. All units arrived and began fire suppression tactics. Battalion 1 called for second alarm and called in six personnel to man the city. A third alarm was struck when four personnel reported to the scene to assist with fire suppression.Four more personnel were then called in to cover the city. OIC called for ladder 1 to assist in suppression of the fire.
The biggest concern with the fire was the hazardous chemicals that were located in the back part of the building since it burned four years ago. Large plumes of thick black smoke intermingled with dark and light gray smoke filled the air as it drifted towards the northeast thanks to the winds blowing from the southwest. That forced fire officials to isue a “Shelter in Place” warning in northwestern Frankfort, which included those who live in the area of West Barner and Roy Scott Parkway to the West to include Blinn Avenue to Rossville Avenue and then north on Rossville Avenue to include Stewart Manor Trailer Court to the area of Rossville Avenue to Bunnell Road. That warning lasted about an hour before being lifted.
On the August 9 edition of Partyline, Frankfort Building Inspector Sam Payne was asked the status of that building and the hazardous materials in back. He said they were waiting on results from the Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM) to see if those materials could be removed from that area. Payne said nothing could be removed until word was received from IDEM.
Firefighters battled the blaze for about two hours. All traffic was blocked for a mile in any direction.
Kirby said no injuries were reported, but several firefighters did suffer heat exhaustion. Kirby added IDEM has been notified and will be on the scene Friday morning to assure everything is safe. The cause of the fire is still under investigation.
Kirby also said all firefighters did a tremendous job to keep all residents safe and the administration commends them. Firefighters did remain on the scene with help from local businesses with a pay loader to help completely extinguish the fire.
The original fire at R&A Plastics, a recycling facility, was in April 2014. Initial estimated damages put the inventory at a $100,000 loss, with approximately $25,000 damage done to the building. Two-and-a-half acres of plastic burned during the fire, which was spurred on by very windy conditions. That building had remained vacant and city officials were working to get the site cleaned up.