LAPORTE, Ind. (WNDU) – Although most of the danger is out, firefighters doused some hot spots under the rubble of a LaPorte business Thursday.
According to the fire chief, the water still stored in the building did not have any effect on the fire caused by the hand sanitizer. Many of the hot spots that are still smoking are places where firefighters have decided to let the fire burn easily.
They are keeping a close eye on them to make sure the fire is contained.
“Protecting that water tower yesterday was critical,” said LaPorte Fire Chief Andy Snyder. “One of those buildings is behind the water tower and still has a good chance of burning, so we want to cut that off and make sure it’s completely gone before we leave the property.”
The state fire brigade was also on the scene as they began an investigation into what may have started the fire in the first place. And while it’s too early to say exactly what sparked all the hand sanitizer that caught fire, investigators are starting to narrow in on a few possibilities.
They are currently investigating reports that homeless people may be seeking shelter in and around the building, but say they have no evidence yet.
The Laporte fire chief said the fire could have been accidental without any human involvement.
We reported Wednesday that the building did not have a working fire suppression system and that there was no person on the premises who was supposed to be in charge 24/7.
This now brings awareness to other warehouses in the area that may expose them to a similar situation.
“This may be something we need to open our eyes and take some control,” said LaPorte Fire Chief Andy Snyder. “Only people who come into the city to rent a place must meet certain criteria or at least notify the city and the administration and the enforcement bodies of their presence because it shows what happens when that doesn’t happen.”
Chief Snyder said more than 4 million gallons of water were used to control the fire.
Sometimes firefighters use fire foam to put out some chemical fires, but they destroy this device. One of the main factors in this is PFAS chemicals. This increases the risk of cancer for people who come in contact with them, but they accumulate over time and do not leave the body.
Firefighters are already at high risk for cancer, so foam is the last thing they need to be around.
There is also the risk of the foam running into the groundwater, which will cost thousands of dollars to clean up. If this is not the case, it can cause serious cancer risks for people living nearby.
“Most of the time it’s just better to get everyone to a safe place, get them out and let the product burn,” said Indiana State Fire Marshal Steve Jones. “Adding things to the ground contaminates the ground. So how we fight these fires has to be based on the environmental impact.”
Since earlier this year, this free program has already removed nearly 20,000 gallons of firefighting foam from nearly 150 Indiana fire departments.
Copyright 2022 WNDU. all rights reserved.
