Parkersburg Fire Is Out, But Questions Remain

Officials in Parkersburg say a fire at a warehouse storing recycled plastics has been extinguished after burning for eight-and-a-half days. 

The exact contents of the warehouse have yet to be released. Officials say materials data that was initially handed over by the property owner is outdated and other documentation was destroyed in the fire. 

On Thursday, state environmental regulators told Intercontinental Export Import Inc. to immediately provide the inventory of the burned warehouse. The Parkersburg News and Sentinel reports that IEI handed over information to the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection on Sunday.

“They received information this afternoon and the DEP is in the process of determining if it fits the information that was required,” Larry Messina, spokesman for the state Department of Military Affairs and Public Safety, told the newspaper.

Local fire crews and other responders will remain on site for at least two days to make sure no flare ups occur, according to Messina.

State environmental regulators and contracted consultants continue to monitor the area’s air quality.

The West Virginia Fire Marshal’s Office is investigating the incident and has yet to determine a cause.

The Wood County Commission will meet at 9:30 a.m. Monday.