Fire crews are battling a blaze that began around 11am inside a US Farathane warehouse near 22nd and Beard streets in Port Huron’s industrial park. Thick, black smoke from the facility could be seen this afternoon as far south as Algonac. According to Port Huron Fire Chief Corey Nicholson, the 130,000 sq. ft. building is filled with automotive plastics, either finished products or pre-fabricated plastics. The EPA is conducting active air monitoring and is reporting no threat to the community. As far as fire containment, Nicholson says an excavator is on scene to take down sides of the building so crews will be able to affect heavy fire streams on the body of fire inside. Crews are expected to be on scene until morning. Nicholson says three fire fighters have so far been hospitalized due to heat exhaustion and cardiac issues. No other injuries have been reported at this time. Nicholson is reminding residents to stay clear of the area to allow fire crews to focus on the blaze.
