RICHMOND, Ind. -- As a fire at an Indiana plastics recycling plant is expected to keep pumping potentially hazardous smoke, soot and ash into the surrounding community for several more days, local officials say they have been concerned about a possible blaze at the facility for years.
The US Environmental Protection Agency is conducting around-the-clock air quality monitoring due to concerns that the fire, burning since Tuesday afternoon, may be releasing debris contaminated with asbestos and toxic chemicals from the incinerated plastics.
Though the state fire marshal has said the smoke plumes are "definitely toxic," the EPA had not detected any toxic compounds as of Wednesday morning.
Updated test results from fire debris are expected Thursday morning, the agency said.