The smoke rising from Newport Saturday morning originated from a fire at River Metals Recycling, according to Campbell County dispatch.
The City of Newport said on its Facebook page that the fire was out by about 11:40 a.m., though smoke could still be seen coming from the site at that time.
“A fire started River Metals Recycling in the sheet iron pile and they are unaware of the source” the post said. “Fire suppression on site did not work. The Fire Department was on site within 10 minutes mitigating the situation and remains on site.”
Clifton Neighborhood Association President Chad Silber told LINK fires happen at the site too often.
Newport City Commissioner Ken Rechtin — who has been outspoken against River Metals Recycling amid ongoing litigation related to explosions and alleged air pollution — posted a video on YouTube showing the fire.
“It’s become quite a nuisance to our city,” Rechtin said. “It’s really evidence of how badly placed this is and how this should be in a closed facility.”
LINK nky’s Haley Parnell has been reporting on the ongoing legal battle between River Metals Recycling and the community it operates within, and many residents are outspoken about their desire for something to change.
Newport residents say plant explosions have been affecting them for years.
Jeff Zemanek lives roughly a quarter of a mile from River Metals Recycling, also known locally as RMR, and feels explosions from the plant roughly once a week.
Zemanek has lived in his home for over nine years and said he has felt explosions as often as three times a day. He has shown up to many of the court hearings in support of the lawsuit.
“It’s been around 50 to 60 explosions we’ve documented every year for the last few years,” Zemanek said. “That’s been pretty consistent in that range.”
Zemanek said the noise from the explosions is not necessarily what concerns him. It is his house shaking from the blasts.
“I think what has to really be made clear is, yeah, it’s very disturbing when you hear the noise, the explosion, and so forth because you don’t know when it’s coming,” Zemanek said. “It’s very sporadic; you jump out of your seat, pets go crazy, and everything else. But it’s the concussion from the blast. It’s how it shakes your house.”
River Metals Recycling’s attorneys have argued that the ordinance regarding maximum permitted sound pressure levels in decibels was “unconstitutionally vague.”
A May 30 hearing will determine if the case goes to trial.
LINK nky reached out to River Metals Recycling for comment, and we will update this story when we hear from them.
