Corncob pile fire continues to burn days later in Tipton County

WINDFALL, Ind. (WISH) — A “stubborn” corncob heap occurrence archetypal reported Saturday greeting continued to smolder Thursday and origin wellness issues for immoderate adjacent residents, the Wildcat Township Fire-Rescue-EMS says.

Five occurrence departments were archetypal sent to the occurrence astir 8:45 a.m. Saturday successful the 3200 artifact of State Road 213. That’s conscionable southbound of the municipality of Windfall and astir an hour’s thrust northbound of Indianapolis. Windfall has astir 700 residents.

The occurrence was caused by spontaneous combustion, with upwind conditions and moisture of the corncobs creating “the cleanable condition,” the Wildcat Township Fire-Rescue-EMS said successful a Facebook post.

“Forecast for adjacent fewer days amusement upwind from the southbound truthful Windfall volition beryllium affected astatine slightest till the 25th erstwhile it volition displacement from southbound to the North with immoderate rain,” the station said.

The Wildcat Township Fire-Rescue-EMS has kept residents apprised of the occurrence due to the fact that of its odor and smoke. On Thursday, the Tipton County Health Department and the American Red Cross agreed to assistance immoderate residents affected by the smoke; they were asked to telephone 800-733-2767. A poster connected the Wildcat Township Fire-Rescue-EMS Facebook leafage complained of a choky chest, nausea and headaches owed to smelling the smoke.

The Wildcat Township Fire-Rescue-EMS Facebook page has been utilized to support residents updated connected the fire. The latest update connected Wednesday said firefighters were moving astir 24-hour days to effort to get the heap to pain quicker, and had consulted with the Indiana Department of Environmental Management and different agencies for help.

The occurrence and rescue squad estimates much than 300,000 gallons of h2o had been utilized connected the occurrence by Wednesday night, and a determination was made to nary longer deplete section h2o resources to combat the fire.