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Tuesday, April 04, 2023

UPDATED: NorCo EMS: Stay Out of West Easton!

It's unclear to me whether firefighters are still battling a huge fire at a West Easton warehouse that broke out around 5 am. NorCo EMS is on site. It reports that it has received no readings that warrant an evacuation or shelter-in-place, but is requesting people to stay away.  Other than the linked story, I have no other details. 

Frank Pintabone, who lives on the other side of the Lehigh River, reports "[h]uge explosions. Like 8 already."

The fire is located at 1550 Lehigh Drive, a 17.8 acre property owned  by Brucha Emek LLC, 

According to West Easton Borough Council member Matt Dees, there is a propane storage facility - Anthem Propane - on site. 

1550 Lehigh Drive
A College Hill resident reports ash raining down on hos roof. Another area resident stated that, at one point, three choppers and two drones were hovering over the site of the blaze. 

1:15 PM UPDATE from NorCo EMS: "At this time, Incident Command is calling the fire under control.

"The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection is on-site testing for air quality and water runoff. Hazmat team is currently on-site assisting with the incident. They are assisting Emergency Services in monitoring water, air and hazard identification if required.

"We are asking any non-emergency personnel to please stay clear of the area."

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9 comments:

  1. AnonymousApril 4, 2023 at 10:27 AM

    There was a propane storage facility.

    ReplyDelete
  2. AnonymousApril 4, 2023 at 12:20 PM

    Bernie

    This sounds very serious. Feel terrible for first responders and residents. Wish all safe.

    The propane tanks (earlier reports stated were far from the fire) but it now appears the flames have expanded onto the tank storage areas.

    ReplyDelete
  3. AnonymousApril 4, 2023 at 1:37 PM

    Wilson School District sent its students to Avona Elementary and Wilson Middle School today. Many of those students walked through the ash and fumes. This fire is 1/2 mile away. Reports say at least one of those schools didn’t have electricity.

    This is outrageous. Bernie, can you confirm from the school district?

    ReplyDelete
  4. Bernie O'HareApril 4, 2023 at 2:43 PM

    Both schools remained open. A call to Avona Principal Katie Petrucci remains unanswered. A call to Wilson Area School District Ass't Super remains unanswered. If either answers, I'll report what they say.

    ReplyDelete
  5. AnonymousApril 4, 2023 at 3:23 PM

    I presumed those explosions were from your restroom

    ReplyDelete
  6. AnonymousApril 4, 2023 at 3:26 PM

    Thank you.

    ReplyDelete
  7. AnonymousApril 5, 2023 at 8:00 AM

    I know the testing kept documenting that nothing hazardous was found but let me tell you my throat located above the College Hill area sure did not like the crappy air in my area. I could smell it in my house and the "non-hazardous" material was not good for anyone breathing the crap. Some of the warehouses in the townships are also ticking timebombs with protection relying on the thin ranks of our volunteer firefighters. I imagine most emergency responders have nightmares worrying about the next one.

    ReplyDelete
  8. AnonymousApril 5, 2023 at 8:25 AM

    Anonymous wrote:
    "Wilson School District sent its students to Avona Elementary and Wilson Middle School today. Many of those students walked through the ash and fumes. This fire is 1/2 mile away. Reports say at least one of those schools didn’t have electricity."

    Bernie,
    Can you find out if this is true? Medical reports caution children being exposed to
    toxins as their lungs are not fully developed.

    ReplyDelete
  9. AnonymousApril 6, 2023 at 3:03 AM

    Northampton County EMS tells the public to stay away from West Easton, but Wilson School districts makes its elementary school students walk to school, through West Easton.

    Pretty outrageous to me.

    ReplyDelete

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