KISSIMMEE, FLORIDA — Dark clouds of smoke are filling the sky as a massive fire burns through acres of plastic at a warehouse in Kissimmee.
The fire started around 2 am on Thursday at Nursery Supplies Inc, according to WESH. The industrial warehouse holds two acres of pallets containing plastic pots for plants. Officials say it may take several more hours before they can get the fire under control.
“We've got remote monitoring set up and we're not yet getting any signal that would cause us to call for an evacuation, but that could change,” Osceola Fire Rescue Deputy Chief Jon Haskett told the station. “If there is an evacuation, it would be due to the smoke and carbon monoxide off the fire.”
Local Hazardous Materials (HAZMAT) officials are on the scene monitoring the impact the fumes and smoke are having on the air quality. Nursery Supplies’ website boasts of “innovative, eco-friendly products.”
BREAKING: Massive fire at a nursery in Kissimmee, Florida.
— Vanessa Pacheco (@VanessaOnTV) February 16, 2023
According to Osceola Fire officials, the call came in this morning about the fire behind Nursery Supplies, Inc. Officials believe the fire will be contained within the next few hours. So far, no injuries reported. pic.twitter.com/oFcaA5dd55
RAGING FIRE: Firefighters are working to protect a nursery from a massive fire burning several acres in Kissimmee, Florida on Thursday morning. Flames and smoke are shooting into the air that can be seen from miles away. DETAILS: https://t.co/dLF0KrG5zU pic.twitter.com/QKzYtGJnYV
— FOX 35 Orlando (@fox35orlando) February 16, 2023
Thousands of plastic pots burn massive fire at Florida nursery #fire #osceolacounty #florida #KameraOne pic.twitter.com/PadJ3SV6xN
— KameraOne (@kamera_one) February 16, 2023
“ARE WE UNDER ATTACK?”
The alarming scene comes on the heels of several other similar incidents, including one in South Florida this week.
On Sunday, a waste-to-energy facility caught fire in Doral, Florida. As of Wednesday, dark smoke billows filled the sky.
Residents of the South Florida city of Doral have been suffering an environmental and public health nightmare for the past 2 days after the aging Covanta trash incinerator caught fire. 🧵👇 pic.twitter.com/pIb9TtQKDx
— Earthjustice (@Earthjustice) February 14, 2023
The Twitter account Aerosol Watch reports four additional fires in the Southeast on Tuesday.
#GOES16 #ABI aerosol optical depth (AOD) composite captured #smoke plumes (circled) from numerous prescribed #fires across the #Southeast US yesterday 13 Feb, including fires in #Louisiana, #Mississippi, #Alabama & #Florida. @GOESguy @ryans_wx pic.twitter.com/xEXTRKGe7V
— AerosolWatch (@AerosolWatch) February 14, 2023
A train wreck that released toxic chemicals into the air in East Palestine, Ohio on February 3 has made national news this week.
Responding to the news on Twitter, one military veteran asked his 36,000 followers: “Are we under attack?”
