Officials Give Daily Update On Menominee Warehouse Fire

Below is the latest updated press release (10/16/22) about the Menominee Industrial Fire.City, state and federal officials today released an update on response activities.

• Site conditions are stable and steadily improving. Recovery actions are increasing daily.

• There have been no reports of fatalities or injuries related to the incident.

• Fire suppression operations continue to identify and extinguish remaining smoldering hot spots in burned out areas of the warehouse. These actions are being led by an MDNR wildland fire Incident Management Team.

• Demolition and debris removal are well underway. KKIL and Resolute Forest Products are coordinating these efforts.

• EPA will continue to perform community air sampling and monitoring until the Unified Command determines that it can be scaled down over the coming days because of steadily improving fire suppression and debris management on-site. EPA is currently evaluating air monitoring data and coordinating results with local and state agencies.

• Several million gallons of fire suppression water were collected to prevent runoff of fire related contaminants to the Menominee River. Construction of a water treatment system to treat this water has begun. Tyco Fire and its contractors Arcadis and Clean Harbors lead this effort which is being coordinated and overseen by EGLE and EPA.

• Treated drinking water results received to date for the cities of Menominee and Marinette show PFAS levels below Michigan or Wisconsin health-based or regulatory standards for measured PFAS compounds. Michigan and Wisconsin have evaluated the risks and determined that public risks to these PFAS currently are considered low. If future sampling shows results above state health based or regulatory standards, further action will be taken, and residents will be notified immediately.

• State and local public health agencies are reviewing EPA data for health risks and will notify the public immediately if risk increases from current conditions.

A Frequently Asked Questions document is available for residents. If residents have questions, they can call 211 for more information.

The fire is contained and under control. Portions of the warehouse facility continue to burn and fire suppression by local and regional fire departments are continuing.

Coordinating agencies: