Scrapyard blaze prompts health concerns

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) - A scrapyard inferno is raising more concerns about recent industrial fires in Buffalo. Should Erie County do more to clear the air?

An environmental group is accusing Erie County health officials of "stonewalling" efforts to come up with an emergency protocol for industrial fires. The Clean Air Coalition of Western New York is holding a rally Monday afternoon at the Rath Building to get the health department's attention.

The smoke and flames coming from Gerdau Ameristeel Recycling is the latest in a string of industrial fires to hit Buffalo with its obvious air quality and health concerns. Public officials started a movement following the Niagara Lubricants fire on Chandler Street, back in July, to protect the health of neighborhoods, starting with the basics, such as staying inside.

Buffalo Fire Commissioner Garnell Whitfield said, "If you can avoid being in the midst of smoke, that is always the best policy, to avoid that. If you can avoid it from entering into your home or place of business, obviously you want to be able to do that."

Since the Chandler Street fire, the Clean Air Coalition has brought together fire responders from the city, the State DEC, and other emergency officials to formulate a public health protocol for industrial fires.

Clean Air Coalition Executive Director Erin Heany said, "We found very high levels of benzene, benzene levels 10 times the EPA's exposure limits."

But executive Heaney says they are not getting much help from state and county health officials.

"The county health department has been missing in action. We think they have a really important role to play, and we need a meeting with them to let them know our ideas about ways that we can better protect public health when there are industrial fires," said Heaney.

Erie County Health Commissioner Dr. Anthony Billittier said, "The Erie County Health Department has never had the capabilities, nor have we ever responded to fires to do air quality monitoring."

Dr. Billittier says the air quality monitoring the Clean Air Coalition is promoting is the DEC's job and monitoring health effects comes down to the State Health Department. But when it comes to smoky fires, there is one simple rule for non-emergency personnel.

"If there is smoke, whether it be from an industrial fire or a house fire, a simple house fire, people should not breathe in the smoke, regardless of what any air testing shows," said Dr. Billittier.

Dr. Billittier did say if the Clean Air Coalition meets with state health officials, the county will be there. Heaney said the Deputy Commissioner for the State Health Department has agreed to meet with the coalition next month, so county officials might have to update their calendars.