SPRINGFIELD, Ohio -- Northwestern Local Schools will dismiss early because of the massive fire at a nearby oil company, on the advice of emergency crews.
The district is dismissing in two stages, said Superintendent Tony Orr. Middle and high school students are dismissing now, to be followed by elementary students.
All evening activities have been cancelled and ventilation closed at the schools.
"We're doing the very best to expedite the situation," he said.
The fire is at the R.D. Holder Oil Co. at 2219 Folk Ream Road northwest of Springfield at the Pike and German Twp. lines.
Some surrounding homes have been evacuated and people with farm animals have been advised to keep them away, said Jacob King, Bethel Twp. and Wright-Patterson Air Force Base fire chief.
"We're trying to control it with water and foam, but it's better to let it burn to prevent runoff," he said.
One firefighter has been transported by medics with minor leg injuries, King said.
The Clark County Sheriff's office advised people in the immediate area of a massive fire at an oil company to close their windows and turn off air conditioning. The advisory was issued about 1 p.m.
Brian Huxtable, of the Regional Air Pollution Control Agency, said to avoid the smoke if at all possible.
"Consider it like a house fire," Huxtable said. "You wouldn't want to breathe that in."
But as far as he knows, it's not a deathly serious inhalation hazard.
"I think you're going to be OK" if you come in contact with the smoke, Huxtable said. "It may cause coughing. ... Just try to avoid going out in it."
People with prior breathing problems like asthma would probably be affected most, he said.
Neither of RAPCA's two air pollution monitors in Clark County are picking up the smoke, he said, probably due to their placement in relation to the smoke plume.
Firefighters ordered first responders back as a massive blaze spread at an oil company northwest of the city. Transformers exploded and electric lines fell on the scene about 12:45 p.m., forcing firefighters back even more.
Some people in the area with ponds and lagoons have offered water to truck in.
The fire started about 11 a.m. with a truck and spread to a warehouse and other buildings, causing a structure collapse.
Kelly Phares of 2300 Folk Ream Road lives across from the scene of the fire.
"I heard some pops and literally my house shook," she said. "I'm concerned that something could fly over, but we don't have any trees or anything (that would catch fire)."
Katey Willis lives at 2400 Folk Ream Road and said black debris from the fire is in her yard.
"I just happened to look outside because I thought it was just getting cloudy," she said. "I saw (the fire) before the fire trucks got here. It's pretty scary."
Heavy black smoke can be seen for miles, including from downtown Springfield and beyond, and flames appeared to be reaching as high as 200 feet at times.
Officials were concerned about the potential for explosions. Fuel and gasoline products burn at a higher rate than house fires, King said.
R.D. Holder workers tried to remove computers and boxes from the front part of the building before fire spread to that area.
Firefighters have called for all non-emergency workers to move behind a fence and asked for the Emergency Management Agency to assist.
Traffic is blocked at Folk Ream Road and Detrick Jordan Pike.
At least seven agencies have been called to aid Pike Twp. crews, including the city of Springfield, and Bethel, German and Springfield Twp. Haz-mat and Wright-Patterson Air Force Base crews also have been called.
The R.D. Holder Oil Co. serves Springfield, Bellefontaine, Lancaster, Washington Court House and Lima, as well as Northern Kentucky and surrounding areas.
They supply diesel fuel, heating oil, gasoline, Dragon racing fuel and bio-diesel fuels. They also supply automotive and heavy duty lubricants. It has been in business since 1986.
Company crews were loading up a tractor trailer when it caught fire, but it's unclear why it started, owner Bob Holder said.
The company also has a Bellefontaine site, Holder said, and hopes to be running from there by tomorrow.
It's the first fire at the company, he said.
"It'll hit me later," he said, trying to remain calm as his business burned.
The Clark County Auditor's Office lists the warehouse at 1,600 square feet and an office area at more than 6,600 square feet, as well as a third structure at 272 square feet. The property is valued at nearly $650,000.
Copyright 2012 - Dayton Daily News, Ohio
McClatchy-Tribune News Service
