Multiple Fire Crews Contained Large Chemical Fire in Verdigris

Verdigris, Oklahoma

Fire crews were out at the scene of a galvanizing plant that caught fire in Verdigris Sunday evening.

The call came in around 6 p.m. Sunday as a structural fire, but turned into a hazmat situation quickly because of the chemicals inside the plant.

Several agencies responded to this fire, including Verdigris, Catoosa, Claremore, Limestone, and Tulsa, as well as HAZMAT teams.

The fire happened at the Valmont Utility galvanizing plant in Verdigris, and firefighters say no one was injured.

This fire has been challenging for firefighters because of the chemicals inside the plant.

Fire crews were worried about the chemicals getting in the water runoff if they put too much water on the fire.

Mike Shaffer, the Verdigris Fire Chief, says once they got on the scene, they had to make a plan to keep the chemicals from possibly flowing into the water supply.

“So allowing the fire to consume fuels that could go ahead and burn up and be dispersed versus trying to fight the fire and then having a runoff situation, where now you’re looking at impacting drinking water and stuff like that for an entire city, it’s a big consideration,” said Shaffer.

He says there isn’t any known threat to the water supply, but they are taking extra precautions to make sure it doesn’t happen.

The investigation into what caused the fire is ongoing.