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EQ Industrial Services Facility Fire - Apex, N.C.
Emergency Response personnel from EPA, Region 4 were dispatched to a fire at the Environmental Quality (EQ) waste disposal facility in Apex, N.C., October 6, 2006, to assess the situation and offer assistance to the Apex Fire Chief. EPA On-Scene Coordinators (OSC) and their contractors were dispatched to the incident with air monitoring and response equipment. EPA will continue to assist the Incident Commander with air monitoring support, hot zone entries and environmental assessments.
EPA's Airborne Spectral Photographic Environmental Collection Technology (ASPECT) airplane is enroute to provide real-time air monitoring. ASPECT uses passive infrared technology to detect chemicals that present human health hazards.
Updates:
(October 7, 2006) The company's environmental contractor extinguished the fire in the early morning hours of Saturday, October 7th. The evacuation was lifted for most of the area except the immediate area surrounding the facility which affects only businesses.
EPA will continue to coordinate with local and state officials regarding air monitoring, possible runoff, and environmental assessments.
Preliminary results from EPA's air monitoring indicate negative readings in areas away from the hot zone. The ASPECT airplane conducted 10 fly-overs along the plume and crosswind directions on October 6. Data from the ASPECT showed very low levels of emission from the site. Low-level detections suggest trace-level chlorinated ethanes and benzenes. The detections did not indicate significant off-site migration.
(October 6, 2006) Emergency Response personnel from EPA, Region 4 were dispatched to a fire at the Environmental Quality (EQ) waste disposal facility in Apex, N.C., October 6, 2006, to assess the situation and offer assistance to the Apex Fire Chief. EPA On-Scene Coordinators (OSC) and their contractors were dispatched to the incident with air monitoring and response equipment. EPA will continue to assist the Incident Commander with air monitoring support, hot zone entries and environmental assessments.
EPA's Airborne Spectral Photographic Environmental Collection Technology (ASPECT) airplane is enroute to provide real-time air monitoring. ASPECT uses passive infrared technology to detect chemicals that present human health hazards.