Tuesday, February 10, 2015

INDIANA DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT TO INVESTIGATE WARSAW CHEMICAL COMPANY FIRE AND CHEMICAL SPILL OF METHANOL INTO LAKE WINONA



 

INDIANA DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT TO INVESTIGATE WARSAW CHEMICAL COMPANY FIRE AND CHEMICAL SPILL OF METHANOL INTO LAKE WINONA

February 10, 2015

WARSAW, INDIANA

The Indiana Department of Environmental Management is investigating the cause and origin of Friday's fire and chemical spill at the Warsaw Chemical Company.

A news release from the Warsaw Mayor's office said the investigative phase of the incident began immediately after the emergency response phase ended Monday. The department is gathering information from Warsaw Chemical to determine the cause and origin of the fire. The department said the inventory of the surviving chemicals is underway. After inventorying the chemicals, the release said the chemicals will be comparing with the inventory provided by Warsaw Chemical to determine the quantities and specific chemicals that were involved in the spill.

The investigation is expected to take at least a week. Following the conclusion, the State Fire Marshall will provide the conclusion. The release said the effects on Winona Lake are uncertain at this point. The department of environmental management will order a managed remediation to the Warsaw Chemical Plant after the investigation.

The conclusion of the investigation will be released by the State Fire Marshal's office. It is speculated to take at least a week for that information to be released. Local storm water solutions will certainly be a part of that order. The Center for Lakes and Streams will also play an important role in the assessment.