DUNNELLON, Fla. – Residents packed Dunnellon City Hall Monday night to voice concerns about potential long-term health effects following a railroad tie fire in Marion County that sent thick smoke into nearby neighborhoods.
The standing-room-only meeting came one day after a large fire broke out at a stockpile of chemically treated railroad ties near East McKinney Street and North Williams Street, according to the Marion County Fire Department. Fire officials warned residents that the treated wood could produce heavy, irritating smoke and urged people in the area to avoid the site if possible and keep windows and doors closed. Some nearby residents said they received evacuation notices and were unsure how to respond.
[VIDEO: Toxic smoke warning issued after railroad ties burn in Marion County]
“We care about this. We care about our home. We care about the well-being of all the citizens,” said Dr. Eva Bellon, a lifelong Dunnellon resident who attended the meeting to raise concerns about possible health impacts.
Bellon and others said they fear the smoke was more dangerous than a typical fire due to the chemicals used to treat the railroad ties.
“Everyone is worried about the overall health of everyone who lives in the area,” Bellon said. “The smoke was dangerous. It’s not just normal smoke.”
Nearby resident Leroy Thomas said he came to city hall because he is concerned about both the air quality during the fire and any chemicals that may remain at the site.
“I don’t live far from there. We had a notice of evacuation. We didn’t know what to do,” Thomas said. “I went down to look around and the fire was everywhere. It’s bad.”
Homeowners told city leaders they believed the owners of the railroad tie stockpile had been working to remove the materials from the area because of the risks they posed, but that process had been delayed.
“They delayed it too long, and our worst nightmare, which we had warned them about, was this fire,” one resident said.
Jyoti Parmar with the Sierra Club also addressed city leaders, expressing concern about how quickly the fire spread and the potential environmental and health impacts.
“It was shock and dismay,” Parmar said. “There was deep concern about what the impacts are going to be and how quickly the fire was going to be contained.”
In response to the fire, Dunnellon’s mayor declared a state of emergency as crews worked to extinguish the flames.
City leaders praised firefighters for their response, noting the dangers posed by toxic chemicals released during the fire.
Residents said they are now awaiting updates on cleanup efforts and the disposal of remaining materials at the site as officials assess any lingering risks.