Location: Hardy Industries, 679 Hardy Road, Painesville Township, Ohio.Hardy Industries produces animal nutrition ingredients from hydrogenated vegetable oils.

Time of call:! 09:43Painesville Township FD responded with: 1 Engine, 1 aerial, and 1 rescue squad.On scene:! 09:46MABAS 2nd:! 09:52 (MABAS = Mutual Aid Box Alarm System)

Fire crews initiated defensive operations, attempting to confine the fire to the area they found it in. Two plant workers with exposure to heat and smoke were evaluated on scene; they refused transportation to a hospital.

Painesville Township Fire established a unified command composed of fire, law enforcement, and plant personnel. This unified command structure allows the inclusion of various agency representatives that have information necessary for the management of the incident, allowing the incident commander to make decisions on the best information available.

MABAS 3rd:! 10:48MABAS 4th:! 11:08MABAS 5th:! 11:32

The above mutual aid accounted for 14 engines (including Lubrizol Corporation’s foam engine), 5 aerial trucks, 5 paramedic squads, 1 air truck, and 1 Command Van.

This fire involved very combustible materials in both the process and storage areas of the building. The fire produced more heat than the available water could absorb, and rapidly grew in intensity, exposing five rail cars containing vegetable oil.

Concerns regarding the possible failure of the tank cars because of their exposure to the intense fire resulted in an order to evacuate the fire ground at 11:33 hours.

Fire personnel and the Command Group withdrew to Painesville Township Fire Station #3 to evaluate the situation and plan for the mitigation of the incident. Lake County Geographic Information Services provided assistance in planning for the possible release of vegetable oil from the tank cars. Representatives from the Ohio EPA, Lake County General Health District, Emergency Management Agency, County Water Department, and the Ohio Fire Chiefs Emergency Response Plan contributed to the management of this event. The Red Cross provided food and drink to the responders.

A transportation group was established to coordinate school bus routing and to provide any needed transportation should evacuation of any area be necessary. Air monitoring was conducted in the areas downwind from the fire.

Painesville Township Fire Department - Press Release

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Painesville Township Park / Lake Erie Shores elementary and middle school students are being held at LaMuth school. Junior high students are being held at Riverside HS. Parents should pick up their children at these locations.

The Lake County Reverse 9-1-1 system was utilized to provide information to affected citizens.

Current operations, as of 17:00 (5:00 P.M.):

1.! Contain / manage run off water from firefighting operations. At this time, all water ! is being contained on the Hardy Industries property.

2.! Extinguishment of remaining fire. Several areas of deep-seated fire exist and are ! being attacked using firefighting foam to increase the effectiveness of the water.

3.! Evaluation of downwind air conditions.

4.! Planning for overnight operations.

Hardy Industries 10:33 A.M. October 11, 2012

Painesville Township Fire Department - Press Release

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Hardy Industries, warehouse area and rail tank cars, 11:34 A.M.October 11, 2012

For more information contact:

Lt. Frank HuffmanPainesville Township Fire Department440-358-1713

Assistant Chief Thomas TalcottWilloughby Hills Fire Department440-487-1901

Painesville Township Fire Department - Press Release

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