JAMES CITY COUNTY — James City County officials provided an update Wednesday to the underground stormwater detention fire that has been burning since Saturday, Nov. 23 at the Williamsburg Premium Outlets.
Reports of early morning smoke and a pungent smell from the Williamsburg Premium Outlet Mall auxiliary parking lot fire have slightly subsided as of noon today, the county said.
At 9 a.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 27, higher humidity in the area was causing smokier conditions than what has been seen during this event, according to a morning update from the county.
Media was allowed on site at noon today.
James City County Fire Chief Ashe stated, “Looking at the weather forecast, the humidity is supposed to drop below 50% this afternoon and that will allow the smoke to lift higher.”.
The property owner has hired a contractor who is working with the Fire Department to gain access to the fire beneath the concrete, the county added.
The fire crews have been able to recover portions of the underground plastic container system.
Currently, JCC is also receiving assistance from the Newport News Fire Department Hazardous Materials Team, with an industrial fan being used to clear the smoke area on site to allow the excavator and fire crews better visibility while they work.
Firefighters, the Virginia Department of Emergency Management, the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) Office of Pollution Response and the Environmental Protection Agency remain on the scene. Air monitoring and water sampling is continuing and remains within safe limits, the county said.
Ashe feels confident that the local community is safe. He stressed that the county has been working with local health officials to monitor conditions, “All the air quality monitoring we have done has been consistent over the last few days.”
Environmental concerns can be reported here.
The mall parking lot was full and when asked, many shoppers stated they felt the shops would not be open if the county deemed the air quality conditions unsafe.
As of this report, the fire continues to burn, and smoky conditions remain in the area.
Environmental Updates
Air monitoring has been within normal ranges consistent with a plastics fire, the county said. Monitoring provides real-time results, which response crews use to determine that the area is safe to occupy.
The monitoring indicates that the National Institute for Occupational Safety Health (NIOSH) threshold limit value for worker protection for carbon monoxide has not been exceeded. NIOSH is responsible for recommending health and safety standards.
In addition, community monitoring was observed to be below the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Permissible Exposure Limits for carbon monoxide.
Air and water sampling is in the process of being conducted.
Sampling provides more robust information by collecting samples over a period of time and analyzing them in a lab. The locations for real-time air monitoring and sampling for laboratory analysis were determined based on wind direction and the nature of the burning plastic and include the burn area perimeter, nearby residential areas, and the entrances to outlet stores, according to the county. The results of these samples will be shared once they become available.
Environmental concerns can be reported here.
Health Updates
The Virginia Department of Health’s (VDH) Office of Drinking Water (ODW) has been monitoring EPA and DEQ’s updates since the incident first occurred.
ODW reports that drainage from the outlet mall will not impact the surrounding localities’ drinking water sources, including Waller Mill Reservoir and Walkers Dam.
The sampling that is being conducted will continue to ensure that no drinking water sources are impacted.
Although preliminary air quality monitoring falls within normal ranges consistent with a fire, smoke inhalation may still irritate the eyes, nose, throat and lungs. The surrounding community adjacent to the fire can protect themselves by staying indoors and/or avoiding the area if they have respiratory problems.
Individuals who have respiratory problems and live in the surrounding neighborhoods near the incident may also choose to use a HEPA filter indoors and/or a NIOSH-approved respirator if going outdoors near the area, the county said.
The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) has more information regarding protective measures from fire smoke.
Read WYDaily’s coverage of a Monday press conference regarding the fire: JCC: Smoke May Continue for Days as Underground Fire Burns Out, Cemetery and Nearby Homes Not in Danger
