Multiple Industrial Fires Spark Evacuations in Indiana and Richmond

A large industrial fire at a facility in Richmond, Indiana, storing plastics and other recyclables has caused officials to order an evacuation of nearby areas. The fire, caused by a burning tractor-trailer, sent thick, choking clouds of black smoke high enough into the atmosphere they were visible on satellite radar. As many as 2,011 residents living within a half-a-mile radius of the fire were evacuated, and officials have said the smoke is toxic to breathe. The Environmental Protection Agency and Indiana Department of Environmental Management are on site and evaluating any potential hazards resulting from the fire.