AKRON, Ohio — Akron Mayor Shammas Malik and Summit County Public Health both say air quality throughout the city is safe following last week's fire at SMB Products.
City and county agencies as well as the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency have been monitoring the air since the blaze broke out on Sept. 5, and according to the mayor's office, "No unsafe levels of airborne contaminants have been detected throughout the duration of the testing." Those tests concluded on Wednesday, and according to a summary report released by the city, there were zero detections of carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons, methanol, xylene, or atmospheric flammability between Sept. 6 and Sept. 11.
Out of 376 readings, the city does confirm a single detection of volatile organic compounds just north of the plant on Rosemary Boulevard, however they stressed this occurred "in an area where no members of the public were present." There were also 71 readings for particulate matter, and while most of these "did not exceed health-protective guidelines," certain areas close to the facility were monitored for elevated levels and eventually found not to be dangerous.
Malik released the following statement:
"We are happy to report that repeated and continuous testing of our air quality has shown no unsafe levels of contaminants in our community throughout the duration of the testing. The safety of our residents, our employees, and all who visit Akron will always be the most important priority for my administration. I want to again thank everyone involved in responding to the incident and monitoring in the days since."
The fire at SMB products smoldered for two days before finally being extinguished last Saturday. Residents in the area were forced to temporarily evacuate their homes, and International Association of Fire Fighters Local 330 President Kevin Gostkowski told 3News at least one of his firefighters was hospitalized for potential exposure to xylene.
"We had some people that had some fatigue, shortness of breath, some respiratory problems," Gostkowski said Tuesday.
Gostkowski noted that the department has been cooperative and that hoses and trucks were decontaminated. While testing did not detect xylene in the air, those readings began the day after the fire first broke out, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says there are currently no known long-term health effects from acute xylene exposure.
Officials have said fire suppression materials made their way into a creek that runs into Long Lake, "which is not a drinking water source." Preliminary results for water testing are expected to be made public sometime next week.