EPA Assesses Air Quality after Lafayette Fire

LaFayette, GA (WDEF) – Several fire crews from around Walker County continued to battle the smoke and small flames at the old Barwick Mill plant in Lafayette that began on Saturday afternoon.

Carter Williamson, with the EPA, said they have stepped in to help assess the damage and determine if any of the materials in that building are hazardous.

"We’re pulling back the material. We’re pulling it into pockets and the fire department is dousing those individual small fires."

Plumes of smoke still fill the air which has caused near-by residents to worry.

" I try to keep my doors and stuff closed because…it really has been bad."

Williamson recommended that anyone close to mill or near the plume stay indoors.

"If you’ve got respiratory issues…existing, if you are an elderly person, sensitive groups to particulate matter, you know this type material. Do your best to try to stay inside."

The EPA will continue to monitor the situation by checking the air quality.

Williams said their crew has made stops all over different parts of Lafayette to get the most accurate readings.

"Yesterday the readings we were getting were within normal ranges. What we did was, we deployed our air monitoring system equipment close to the site so we could monitor what was coming off the site for firemen."

Nate Bennett President of Ashcan Products…who was renting out the space at the old mill, said that what was inside is non-toxic.

"Everything in the facility was biodegradable, it was environmentally safe.

We had calcium carbonate, which is just lime, sand, and water."

Bennett said the building along with all the materials it held is a total lost.

" We’re estimating we lost about $250,000 dollars worth of product. We’re going to continue to do what we do, and the Lord will bless us."

Ashcan has another location in Chattanooga.