U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

Official websites use .gov
A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.

HTTPS

Secure .gov websites use HTTPS
A lock () or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

Seerley Road Fire

 
Site Contact:
Jason Sewell
On Scene Coordinator

(sewell.jason@epa.gov)

Site Location:
5453 Seerley Road
Indianapolis, IN 46241
 response.epa.gov/seerleyroadfire
NRC#: 1131287

On October 20, 2015, a barn caught fire at 5453 Seerley Road, Indianapolis, Marion County, Indiana (the Site). The Site is a vacant residential and farm property. Surrounding land uses include a residential neighborhood (adjacent to the north/downwind at time of fire), grass fields and wooded areas, commercial/industrial areas, and Interstate 70. Five containers believed to be metallic (elemental) potassium were involved in the fire. Fire departments and a Marion County Public Health Department (MCPHD) Hazmat Specialist responded. MCPHD notified the Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM) and U.S. EPA, and requested assistance with assessment and disposal of hazardous substances at the Site. MCPHD made a report to the National Response Center (NRC# 1131287). MCPHD reported the integrity of at least one container was compromised and water reactivity was observed when fire suppression water came in contact with the container.

EPA On-Scene Coordinator (OSC) Jason Sewell responded to the Site and mobilized EPA Superfund Technical Assessment and Response Team (START) contractors to assist with monitoring ambient air and fire suppression water runoff. A Site owner granted access for EPA to stabilize containers at the Site. The OSC mobilized EPA Emergency and Rapid Response Services (ERRS) contractors. For more information, see Pollution Reports (POLREP) posted to this website.


5 metallic potassium vessels were located in a barn at the site. Three of the metal containers are visible picture-center. Two metal containers were within wooden shipping crates (center-back). Wooden shipping crates of potassium metal were labeled Metal potassium containers were over packed in May 20, 2015 and staged outdoors pending disposal Drum ID Key Barn fire on October 20, 2015 Heat from the October 20, 2015 barn fire burned plastic and wooden overpack containers off the five metal potassium vessels Top of one potassium container, located within a wood shipping crate. Interstitial space is paced with sand (probably/formerly oil soaked sands?) Light precipitation on 10/21/2015 - an awning was placed over potassium containers to avoid direct contact with rain potassium metal container - potential breach of container is located on lower left hand side of drum - white powder is visible on the container and nearby on the ground Various piles of unknown materials are located at the Site, see: yellow salt/cake like material (picture back), white salt/cake like material (picture front) Precipitation forecast for October 24, 2015 is 70%. Potassium containers were secured in four-walled tent and a storm water diversion trench was installed to prevent storm water from contacting potassium containers Infrared picture of Drum 1; heat differential indicates the drum is about 2/3 full. Infrared picture of Drum 2; heat differential indicates the drum is about 1/2 full Infrared picture of Drum 3; heat differential indicates this drum is nearly full Infrared picture of Drum 4; heat differential indicates a product level of 2/3 full Infrared picture of Drum 5; this drum is over-packed in sand and a wooden crate and temperature cannot indicate product level Drum of contaminated soil excavated near 35 gallon stainless steel containers; soil has pH of 14 SU EPA contractors erect a second, outer rain shelter to prevent precipitation from contacting water reactive materials EPA contractors place additional berming around rain shelters to prevent storm water from flowing under the rain shelter and contacting water reactive materials EPA contractors improve storm water diversion trenching and berming and post water reactive placards High resolution FLIR image High resolution FLIR image of metal potassium container, container is packed in sand within partially burned wood crate heat and humidity contributed to an increase in water reactivity for Drum 1 Water reactivity generating salt-like substance at the location of the drum leak Drum activity / water reaction has been generating caustic vapor - caustic vapor/condensate has melted away 50% of interior visqueen shelter walls and began eating holes in heavy outer rain shelter Drum / water reaction has been creating caustic vapor trapped within the tent - pH paper demonstrates caustic vapor greater than pH of 10 in breathing zone at the entrance to the tent A small reaction vessel was discovered at the Site. The vessel tag says 99% mercury, 1% lithium The EPA On-Scene Coordinator briefs a Wayne TWP Level A team prior to hot zone entry and sampling