BENTON COUNTY, Wash. – UPDATE May 14, 6:43 p.m.
According to Benton County Fire District 1, the freezers at the warehouse were filled with produce. After the produce melted and molded, the hot weather dried out all the produce helping to fuel any remaining embers.
“We recognize that this is really a hard thing to deal with,” said BCFD1 PIO Jenna Kochenauer. “This fire is unprecedented for our community. And it’s a lot to have to deal with on a regular basis.”
Residents are continuing to live normal lives while the building smolders.
“It’s there, we know it’s there, we just go about our daily lives,” said resident Shelly Richards. “It’s gonna be burning for awhile, we know that. It’s a huge building and it fell in on itself.”
UPDATE May 13, 10:36 p.m.
According to Benton County Fire District 1, crews have returned to the Lineage Logistics warehouse in Finley.
BCFD1 says to stay out of the area. No evacuation notices are in place and no other buildings are threatened.
UPDATE May 11, 6:30 p.m.
The Lineage Logistics factory is still smoldering. According to Benton County Fire District 1, the fire is smoldering in the center of the building. Firefighters report that the structure is too unstable to access the remaining fire.
Officials do not have an estimated date or timeline as to when the fire will be completely put out.
ORIGINAL COVERAGE
With fire crews expected to remain on scene of the Lineage Logistics Warehouse fire in Finley for at least a couple more days and smoke still hanging over the area, air quality continues to be a concern for some in the region.
Those with compromised respiratory systems or breathing problems are being asked to stay indoors if possible and the Benton Clean Air Agency is reporting that air quality in the region is currently moderate.
According to Michele Roth with the American Red Cross, the Evacuation Center at 7202 W. Deschutes Avenue in Kennewick has reopened for residents that need to get out of the smoke or who can’t shelter-in-place.
The evacuation center is not a shelter and is not equipped to house people overnight.
Benton County Emergency Management issued a Code Red for residents in the Finley area and issued a warning via social media advising residents to stay indoors if possible and to avoid using heating or cooling units that draw outside air into their homes.
According to Benton County Emergency Management, the Department of Ecology is onsite of the fire monitoring air quality.
A Code Red is an opt-in emergency alert system that notifies users in the case of an emergency.
Several residents who live near the fire have contacted NonStop Local inquiring about any toxic chemicals or fumes that may have burned or been released in the fire.
According to Jenna Kochenauer with Benton County Fire District 1, the Annhydrous Ammonia kept at the warehouse was stored in a cinderblock structure that is “fully intact and uncompromised.”
