On September 5th, 2024, a large chemical fire broke out at the SMB Products plant on Rosemary Boulevard in East Akron, forcing the evacuation of nearly 10,000 residents. This incident serves as a stark reminder of the potential dangers posed by the estimated 14,500 chemical manufacturing plants across the United States.
As plumes of toxic smoke billowed from the facility, containing hazardous materials like methanol and xylene, families within a half-mile radius faced a frightening reality: how prepared were they for such an emergency? With over 1,000 children under the age of 5 in the affected area, the stakes couldn't have been higher.
At MIRA Safety, we believe in facing facts, not trafficking in fear. The truth is, most families are unprepared for chemical emergencies like the one in Akron. Let's examine what happened, how emergency services responded, and most importantly, what lessons we can learn to better protect our loved ones in the future.
What Happened During the Akron Hazmat Incident? Who Was Affected by the Evacuations? How Did Emergency Services Respond? What Lessons Can Be Learned from this Incident? Where to Get Updates and More Information?Table of Contents
What Happened During the Akron Hazmat Incident?
The large chemical fire in Akron was first reported at 1 p.m. on Thursday, September 5th, 2024. When the Akron Fire Department rolled up on the scene, plumes of black toxic smoke could be seen billowing from the facility. Certainly, the firefighters were prepared with all the equipment they needed to breathe while fighting the fire. The residents around them were not so fortunate.
What Were the Initial Reports About the Fire?
The cause of the commercial fire is unknown at this time as employees were already evacuated by the time first responders arrived. As firefighters began to battle the blaze, it became clear that this would not be an easy fight.
The nature of the chemicals and the risk for an explosion caused the firefighters to take on a defensive posture. At one point, the firefighters even ran out of chemicals to put on the fire as they were making no headway in battle that would go on for hours until the situation was resolved around 8pm that evening.
What Chemicals Were Involved in the Fire?
SMB Products provides chemical packaging services for aerosols and other liquids. For hours, it is reported that methanol, propane, and xylene filled the air. The incident took a turn for the worse when a small explosion was reported, which then prompted the evacuation of over 10,000 residents.
Who Was Affected By The Evacuations?
Both residential and commercial neighborhoods were affected as an evacuation zone of about a half-mile radius around the scene was put into effect. A reunification center was set up at the Firestone Park Community Center, where the Red Cross and other agencies offered services.
Which Neighborhoods Were Evacuated and Why?
While the hazmat fire was first reported around 1 p.m., it wasn't until close to 3 p.m. that the evacuations were ordered. That means for nearly two hours, those residents closest to the facility were at an extreme risk of breathing the toxic chemicals.
However, it was the threat of a larger explosion that prompted the mandatory evacuations. Had that chemical plant fire exploded, the community center would have no longer been a reunification point; instead, it would have been a casualty collection point.
Rally Point at the Firestone Park Community Center
The Red Cross took the lead in supporting those displaced with food and water. They continued to do so until around 9 p.m. when the all-clear was given and residents could return to their homes. While this incident did end with a relatively happy ending, we must examine this from a prepping viewpoint and learn lessons for the future.
How Did Emergency Services Respond?
As we mentioned earlier, firefighters showed up with all the gear they needed to breathe and fight the fire. However, it is also important to note that Akron Fire Department District Chief Sierjie Lash acknowledged the firefighters ran out of suppressive chemicals at one point, meaning even with all the resources at their disposal, they still struggled to fight the fire. One firefighter was even injured during the battle with the blaze.
How Effective Was the Emergency Response in Protecting the Community?
As a whole, it would appear that despite the struggles, emergency services did a fairly good job responding to the fire. We question the two-hour delay before ordering the mandatory evacuations, as two hours breathing methanol and xylene is enough to ruin your day.
The air quality chemical concern was reported to have abated by that evening, but we're never overly optimistic when the government tells us everything is just fine. At the end of the day, when the chemical fire broke out on Rosemary Boulevard, the responsibility for one's safety was their own to bear.
Source: MIRA Safety
What Lessons Can Be Learned From this Incident?
While this incident seemed to end with only one firefighter injured, we can't help but think about the other 14,499 chemical plants that litter populated areas from sea to shining sea. Would similar incidents have the same happy ending?
Less than a year ago, there was a massive plant explosion in West Texas that sent shockwaves through the surrounding area. If that had taken place in Akron on Thursday afternoon, the consequences would have been devastating.
We have to take the incidents that end well and learn lessons the easy way so that we do not have to learn them the hard way. Everyone in the half-mile radius around the facility can testify that the day the fire started seemed like a normal day. You cannot predict when a three-alarm fire will break out, creating an unsafe hazmat situation. All you can do is ensure that you are prepared.
How Can Families Better Prepare for Emergencies like This?
Chemicals burning and creating an unsafe environment to breathe air are more common than you would think. There were over 825 chemical fire incidents in the United States since 2021 alone. This year, 2024, seems to be off to a bang.
There simply is no replacement for having a quality gas mask at your disposal during such an incident. Any resident within that half-mile radius who had one of our Full-Face Respirators would have been able to survive the day had the worst taken place.
Any resident who did have a mask and failed to pick up a child's gas mask for one of the 1,000 children under the age of five in that zone would have had the agony of watching their child suffocate. Please do not be that parent who failed to take into account their child's safety.
Chemical fires are a common reality. They can happen at factories. They can happen from a train derailment. They can happen when some chemical trucker decides he's not "that drunk" to call in sick. They are a reality, and we can't ignore that truth. We're not saying that you have to put on full Hazmat gear at the first sign of smoke. We are saying that you need to be prepared for this reality.
Where to Get Updates and More Information?
At this point, the fire on Rosemary Boulevard in Akron is no longer burning. Most updates are coming via local news, while elected officials are trying to score points at press conferences about their response. As it stands, the hazmat situation has been resolved, for now.
What Next Steps Should Local Residents Take?
If it were us taking our young children back into the blast radius of the large chemical fire in Akron, we'd make sure to go back prepared. Fire Department District Chief Sierjie Lash acknowledged that there were concerns about structural integrity of the building. We simply would not leave our family's safety to chance.
We recognize that this could seem self-serving as we are, after all, in the business of selling the very devices you need to stay safe. However, your family's safety has always been our priority. It is what drives us to do what we do. The incident in Akron is just one of many such incidents that remind us of the importance of our work.
Preparing for the Unpredictable: Your Family's Safety Depends on It
The Akron chemical fire serves as a stark reminder that emergencies can strike at any moment, even in our own neighborhoods. While we can't predict when or where the next incident will occur, we can take proactive steps to protect ourselves and our loved ones.
Don't wait for black smoke to billow from a nearby facility before taking action. Here's what you can do today:
Assess your risk: Research potential hazards in your area, including nearby chemical plants, transportation routes for hazardous materials, and other industrial facilities.
Create an emergency plan: Develop and practice a family evacuation plan, including multiple exit routes and a designated meeting point outside your neighborhood.
Prepare an emergency kit: Stock up on essentials like water, non-perishable food, first-aid supplies, and importantly, protective equipment such as gas masks for all family members, including children.
Stay informed: Sign up for local emergency alerts and familiarize yourself with your community's evacuation procedures and reunification centers.
Invest in proper protective gear: Consider purchasing high-quality gas masks and other protective equipment for each family member. Remember, in a chemical emergency, these could be the difference between life and death.
At MIRA Safety, we're committed to helping you prepare for the unexpected. Visit our website to learn more about our range of protective equipment and to access resources on emergency preparedness. Don't let yourself be caught off guard – take action now to ensure your family's safety in the face of any chemical hazard.
Remember, preparedness isn't about living in fear; it's about empowering yourself with the knowledge and tools to face any situation. Stay safe, stay prepared, and protect what matters most – your family.