A fire in a Wood County industrial storage facility prompted Gov. Patrick Morrisey Sunday to declare a State of Emergency.
Firefighters battled the blaze at the Peoples Cartage warehouse on Camden Avenue in Parkersburg.
The declaration authorizes state agencies to provide all available resources necessary to support local response efforts.
“Protecting the people of Wood County and supporting the brave first responders on the scene are our top priorities,” Morrisey said. “This State of Emergency ensures every available state resource is ready to assist local officials for as long as necessary while we continue monitoring conditions and protecting nearby communities.”
The West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection has deployed personnel from its Environmental Enforcement and Homeland Security and Emergency Response (HSER) divisions to the scene.Environmental officials are evaluating any potential impacts from firefighting runoff into the nearby Little Kanawha River.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation.
DEP personnel continue conducting air quality monitoring around the incident using portable monitors and have yet to detect any air quality readings requiring additional protective actions.
The state has requested assistance from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, which has deployed additional air monitoring equipment.
“People should know that we are taking this incident seriously and approaching it with an abundance of caution,” Morrisey said. “I appreciate the extraordinary work of our firefighters, law enforcement officers, emergency personnel, and environmental teams. We will continue supporting them until this fire is extinguished and the community is safe.”
State agencies will continue monitoring conditions and providing support to local responders. Updates will be provided as additional information becomes available. Residents are encouraged to follow guidance from local emergency officials and avoid the area while firefighting operations continue.
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