Big rig fire sparked warehouse inferno in Indiana, mayor says

A city official in Richmond, Indiana, says that a commercial vehicle fire was the cause of a large industrial fire that forced thousands of people to evacuate on Tuesday.

The fire broke out before 3 p.m. on April 11 at an industrial facility used to store plastics and other recyclable materials that is located at at 358 NW F St. in Richmond.

Heavy black smoke was visible from dozens of miles away.

According to a report from USA Today, Richmond Mayor Dave Snow says that the fire began when a tractor trailer caught fire near the facility. The fire then spread from the truck to the building.

The Wayne County Emergency Management Agency, however, says that “the cause of the fire is unknown and likely won’t be known until after the fire has been extinguished.”

Firefighters have contained the blaze on three sides, but it is still burning as of Wednesday morning and is expected to continue burning for some time.

The Wayne County Emergency Management Agency issued an evacuation order affecting homes and businesses within half a mile of the fire or downwind of the fire. More than 2000 people were reportedly evacuated.

Officials say that the smoke from the fire is toxic.

Multiple agencies including the State Fire Marshal’s Office are investigating the incident.