After a significant HAZMAT fire at Akron's SMB Products, officials declared the blaze had been fully extinguished. The incident at 1081 Rosemary Boulevard prompted evacuations due to the fire and related chemical concerns. Akron Mayor Shammas Malik announced Saturday that "air monitoring conducted by the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency has continued since Thursday and has been within normal levels through the entirety of the testing," as WKYC reported.
The immediate danger appeared to have largely receded. Mayor Malik thanked the "safety forces and the Ohio EPA for their round-the-clock attention and care to this matter." According to the city, contractors have been actively working to directly address and attempt to remove contaminants from a nearby creek that received runoff from the firefighting efforts. Despite these actions, the creek, which ultimately flows into a non-drinking water source, Long Lake, raised concerns over the potential impact of ethanol and methanol contamination, as highlighted in Cleveland19's coverage.
In the aftermath of the incident, Akron Fire Chief Leon Henderson warned that the structure where the fire occurred remains unstable. The mayor conveyed via press release that an investigation into the cause of the fire is expected to commence now that the immediate hazards have been addressed. Meanwhile, Akron city officials emphasized that "multiple treatment areas" operate to ensure water quality remains unaffected in the broader area.
One firefighter sustained injuries in the line of duty during the fire. Fortunately, he has been discharged and is expected to recover fully. "I’m grateful that our injured firefighter is now home and recovering,” Mayor Malik told FOX8. The environmental consultant hired by the facility representatives has begun to carefully collect air canister samples for further laboratory analysis to confirm the preliminary field data.
The Ohio EPA is set to continue monitoring through the weekend, assuring citizens that all air and water tests have returned within safe ranges. As the smoke plume from the fire dissipates, officials gradually shift their focus from emergency response to investigation and recovery. Updates are promised as more information becomes available, maintaining transparency with the public regarding environmental and health safety in the aftermath of the fire.
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