UPDATE (3:48 P.M.):Â The shelter-in-place has been lifted for the Ft. Wright/Latonia area.
ORIGINAL STORY:
A shelter-in-place was order for residents and businesses within one thousand feet of Interplastic Corporation, located at 3535 Latonia Avenue in Fort Wright, near that city’s border with Covington’s Latonia neighborhood.
Fort Wright Fire Department and Covington Fire Department responded to the scene late Sunday morning after there was a call of smoke behind the Kroger store, located nearby on Winston Avenue in Latonia.
Responders concluded that the smoke was actually a chemical cloud, though the chemical has not been publicly identified. City of Covington spokesperson Dan Hassert told The River City News that the cloud was described on the scene as an ” eye and lung irritant”, and that the order to shelter-in-place was made for nearby residents and businesses. Hassert said that he was told that a pressure release valve failed or broke, though further details were not known.
Kenton County Emergency Dispatch also confirmed the shelter-in-place order on Sunday.
A hazardous materials (hazmat) crew was expected to arrive at the scene.Â
To shelter-in-place is to close all windows and turn off any ventilation system that may bring air from the outside to the inside of a building, and to stay indoors.Â
There were no injuries at the scene.
Interplastic, according to its corporate website, “has been an industry leader in thermoset resin, gel coat, colorant, and putty research, design, and development since 1959.” In Latonia, the location is known locally as Silmar, a brand acquired by Interplastic in 1993, the website said.
This story will be updated when more information is known.
-Michael Monks, editor & publisher
Top photo:Â First responders on scene (via City of Covington)
Bottom image via PDS. The green area is Fort Wright and the brown area is Covington.