Plant fire causes toxic cloud and 2,000 evacuated in the U.S.

A fire at a recycling plant in the city of Richmond, in the U.S. state of Indiana, caused a toxic cloud that forced the evacuation of some 2,000 people. The fire at that industrial plant began Tuesday afternoon, continued Wednesday and is expected to continue in the coming days, state and local authorities said.

Indiana Fire Marshal Steve Jones said as early as Tuesday that the smoke cloud caused, a large black plume, “is definitely toxic.”. Richmond Mayor Dave Snow on Wednesday criticized the owner of the plant, who had been ordered to clean up the facility and whose attitude he called “negligent”.

“The business owner is fully responsible for all of this.. Everything that has happened here – the fire, the damage, the risk to emergency crews and citizens – is the responsibility of that negligent owner,” he told reporters. The local newspaper Inside Indiana Business noted that although there have been no injuries, residents about 800 meters from the fire had to be evacuated.

The White House noted Wednesday that the president, Joe Biden, has spoken by phone with Indiana Gov.Eric Holcomb, a Republican, to offer his “full support” and federal assistance if needed.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) sent personnel to the scene Tuesday night. to support local emergency crews in their firefighting deployment.