Wilbur Ellis Factory Cleanup Begins (GCSO)
The Grant County Sheriff’s Office says cleanup efforts have begun at the burned down Wilbur Ellis Fertilizer Plant near Moses Lake.
Eight days after the fire, there are still some smoldering hotspots
The Grant County No. 5 Fire District and several contract cleaners have begun a long process of removing debris, ash, and chemical residue from the plant that burned down on October 23rd.
The GCSO says air-monitoring efforts have eliminated toxic gas emissions, but there are still smoldering hot spots that are being extinguished.
According to GCSO:
“As hotspots still exist at the site and excavations are ongoing, we continue to advise the public to stay away from immediate areas and avoid areas where they see or smell smoke. I’m here.”
According to Wenatchee Town Square Media Radio Station KPQ-AM, the building was designed to collapse internally in the event of a fire, preventing further spread of debris. But it produced a large pile of smoldering buried debris.
As of Tuesday, November 1, there is no official statement as to what caused the massive fire.
