FINLEY, Wash.- The remains of the Lineage Logistics warehouse will continue to smolder until the fire burns itself out.
Benton County Fire District 1 says the structure is at risk at collapsing, and letting the fire burn out will help preserve any potential evidence for an ATF investigation.
“That building’s 500 feet wide and because of the structural damage, we can’t put anyone inside,” says BCFD 1 Deputy Chief Scott Loparco. “We are reaching as far in as we can with our ladder truck and hose lines, but we can’t get to the center of it.”
Crews remain at the warehouse, spraying down the building during the day and monitoring for flare-ups overnight.
These answers come over a week after the fire started. Nearby residents say the smell of smoke has taken over their entire house, as they awaited updates from the BCFD 1.
“I feel like we’re in the dark,” says one member of the Finley Strong group, where officials finally updated the neighbors. “All that we know is what people believe and what Facebook says.”
BCFD 1’s Public Information Officer, Jenna Kochenauer, who’s responsible for relaying fire information to the public, says that with as many moving pieces as there are in a fire this big, it can be hard to get information out quickly.
She says residents should sign up for CodeRED to get immediate updates related to fires and evacuations.
“We didn’t even have time to think about doing a press conference or anything yet,” says Deputy Chief Loparco. “We were still trying to worry about the smoke. It’s been under control for a week, but we’re trying to mitigate the smoke and stuff.”
The fire is under control, but residents will still see smoke for a while. Though there was ammonia and other toxic fumes released, anything of concern burned naturally before it reached breathable air.
The meeting before the Finley Strong is a step in the right direction according to both residents and fire crews.
Loparco and Battalion Chief Matt Gutzmer both live in the Finley area and have been seeing the aftermath themselves. But after hearing the concerns their neighbors had, they both want to make an effort for better communication.
“We’re invested in the community just as much as you are,” says Gutzmer. “Knowing that you guys are having these meetings now, I’ll make an attempt to show up to the meetings as well and be there to answer your questions.”
