Following the chemical fire at SMB Products in Akron earlier this month, city officials announced that air quality tests reveal no hazardous levels of contaminants, according to WKYC. Despite the concerning visuals of the smoke plume, Mayor Shammas Malik affirmed in a statement obtained by WKYC, "We are happy to report that repeated and continuous testing of our air quality has shown no unsafe levels of contaminants in our community throughout the duration of the testing."

Testing has been a constant fixture since the start of the fire on September 5, mapping a radius beyond the site of the blaze. In their analysis, officials found no trace of carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons, methanol, xylene, or atmospheric flammability. With the air quality given a clean chit, the city has decided that further testing will be discontinued, a choice that draws a line under one aspect of the emergency response efforts.

The fire, which took multiple days to extinguish, triggered a flurry of environmental concerns as chemicals used to tame the inferno made their way into a nearby creek. The creek flows into Long Lake, a noted local fishing spot, although not a source of drinking water, as Mayor Malik clarified in the statement.

While air concerns may be alleviated, the ripple effects on Akron's waters remain a focal point. "Officials will continue taking daily water samples," Mayor Malik told FOX8, and citizens can expect preliminary water testing results within the coming week. Whether the aquatic realm has escaped unscathed or not is yet to be ascertained, but irrespective, the city promises vigilance.