Authorities continue to investigate a blaze that forced residents to shelter in their homes on Saturday. WNIN’s John Gibson has details:
The fire broke out Saturday afternoon outside the PBTT facility in the 5200 block of Vann Road in Warrick County.
The Ohio Township Fire Department arrived and determined the blaze may have involved combustible metals like magnesium, aluminum or zinc.
Many more agencies responded to the scene, including a hazardous materials team from the Evansville Fire Department.
The potentially dangerous white smoke that rose from the blaze forced authorities to order many Warrick County residents to shelter in place and keep windows and doors closed.
The order was eventually expanded into Henderson County.
Fire crews finally extinguished the blaze after more than 13 hours early Sunday morning, and the shelter in place order was lifted.
No injuries were reported.
The EPA and IDEM continue to analyze the area to determine what if any additional hazardous materials were involved in the fire.
Authorities say the facility had numerous hazardous materials on site but most were inside the building that was not involved in the fire.
Authorities say water run-off from the scene entered Vann Road Park Lake, raising the risk of a fish die-off in the lake.
Authorities are also looking for any ash fall from the blaze.
