Crews remain on scene of industrial fire with potentially toxic smoke

UPDATE @ 11:25 a.m. (March 6)

Crews are allowing the flames to burn out, and plan to use more water on fire.

Crews are are working to prevent oil from spilling into the aquifer.

We are working bring you information about what the Environmental Protection Agency is doing on scene.

UPDATE @ 7:28 a.m.  (March 6)

Crews are still on the scene of an industrial fire that started around 9 p.m. Sunday.

We are working to clarify if fire officials meant a water well was under the fire, not an oil well.

There are not any known oil wells in Dayton.

UPDATE @ 1:30 a.m. (March 6)

Nearby residents are being cautioned to watch for potentially toxic smoke as firefighters work to protect water well fields below an industrial building that caught fire Sunday night in Dayton.

Crews from Dayton, Riverside and the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency were dispatched to KMW Truck and Trailer Repair at 2149 Valley Street around 9 p.m. and heavy smoke and fire coming from a large metal building.

The fire created a large, potentially toxic, smoke plume that moved to the east, according to Dayton Fire District Chief Rennes Bowers. Bowers urged residents near the fire to close all windows and even evacuate the area if they are getting smoke into their homes.

Fire destroys KMW Truck & Trailer Repair Fire destroys KMW Truck & Trailer Repair

Firefighters immediately faced obstacles fighting this fire due to a large oil field located under the building. Bowers said firefighters had to change their tactics and refrain from using water on the fire.

“Protecting the environment is so counterintuitive to us, we want to throw water and put the fire out,” Bowers said. “And so to hold back and not throw water because were on top of the well field, it’s a hard decision to make, but that’s what we decided to do and I think it was the right decision.”

Bowers said several tanks located inside the building exploded when the fire broke out. The explosions, in addition to the intensity of the fire, prevented firefighters from entering the structure and were forced to fight the fire from outside the building.

Firefighters will remain on scene into Monday morning to prevent the fire from spreading to nearby homes and businesses and extinguish hot spots.

The cause of the fire is unknown and the building is considered a total loss. A fire investigator has been requested to the scene to determine the cause.

No one was in the business when the fire broke out and no injuries have been reported.

UPDATE @ 12:15 a.m. (March 6)

Hazmat crews also have responded to the working fire at KMW Truck & Trailer Repair in Dayton.

Initial reports indicate firefighters are attempting to protect barrels of oil that are stored in the facility, 2143 Valley St.

Initially, the fire was reported to have been coming from a manufacturing company nearby.

We’ll update this page as new details become available.

FIRST REPORT (March 5)

Dayton firefighters were called tonight to Precision Manufacturing Company.

The fire was reported shortly before 10 p.m. at the business, 2149 Valley St.

Initially, there were reports of possibly heavy fire but the roof remained intact. There were no reports of injuries.