Hunter
02/16/23
The State of Iowa’s Homeland Security Department will pay to replace firefighter equipment damaged in an explosion and fire in Marengo.
The Gazette says the decision will allow more than 20 agencies that responded to the blaze to replace gear ruined by diesel fuel and a mysterious solvent stored at the plant operated by C6-Zero. Without the cash infusion from the state, some departments would be fighting fires with older, uncertified gear.
The company, which dissolves used shingles into oil, sand and fiberglass, suffered an explosion and fire December 8th. Employees were injured, nearby homes were evacuated, and the petroleum-based solvent used at the plant left a sticky coating on firefighter clothing. Professional cleaning couldn’t remove the stains, which would be flammable in a future fire situation.
Iowa County sent a demand letter to C6-Zero last month, citing Iowa Code holding people in control of hazardous substances like those found at the company liable for reasonable cleanup costs.
The owner, Howard Brand III, did not reply to that letter by the February 1 deadline.
The Iowa Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management has stepped in and will use funds from the Iowa Coronavirus Fiscal Recovery Fund to replace the damaged gear.
The Gazette says fire departments that will have equipment replaced by the state include Marengo, Victor, Millersburg, Williamsburg, Amana, North English, Ladora, Coralville, Tiffin, Cedar Rapids, Washington, Grinnell, Blairstown, Iowa City, North Liberty, Norway, Belle Plaine and Oxford.
C6-Zero will pay over $333,000 to have them clean up contaminated soil and water at the site. The State Department of Natural Resources have contracted with an Indiana company to remove “forever chemicals from water in a basin holding runoff from the fire. They plan to bill C6-Zero for the $834,000 price tag.