HARTSVILLE -- South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley arrived in Hartsville Wednesday afternoon to tour the scene of the Agrium US Fertilizer Plant fire.
Governor Haley met privately with the state Department of Health and Environmental Control, first responders and Hartsville city leaders. She says she's concerned about the affects of the fire and smoke on the environment and the 60 displaced workers. The governor added that she was amazed by the devastation she saw at the site.
A fire in the breakroom destroyed the 160,000 square foot warehouse Monday night. As of Tuesday evening, there were still 150 firefighters putting out hot spots and monitoring the fire. We are waiting for an updated number from the Hartsville Fire Department.
Right now, crews are using heavy machinery to get into the still smoldering debris. Smoke is still rising from the site.
The Environmental Protection Agency and the state Department of Health and Environmental Control are still on scene monitoring air quality. DHEC spokesman Thom Berry says the agency now has 9 air quality monitors now set up around plant. They are not detecting any toxic chemicals in the air from the smoke. The EPA is continuing to take water samples from nearby lake. Berry says the wildlife near the lake appear to be ok. So far, they see no signs of fish having problems breathing and no stressed vegetation. The EPA is also getting water samples from Black Creek because runoff from a dam near the plant goes into that creek.
State Senator Gerald Malloy, of Darlington, and Representative Jay Lucas, of Hartsville, say they're going to apply for $25,000 in federal aid to help in the clean up effort.
Watch viewer video of the plant burning.
