Firefighters battle blaze at power plant

WILKESVILLE — Larry Foley could see thick black smoke from at least a mile away from where fire engulfed the LS Power's power plant Thursday evening, so he recorded a video in his front yard in Wilkesville.

As Foley recorded a video that he posted to social media, he could hear sirens from Wilkesville, Hamden, Wellston and Vinton volunteer fire departments who were the first to arrive on the scene around 7 p.m. to battle the blaze at the Rolling Hills Generating Station power plant, located on SR 160 near Wilkesville. Local firefighters received additional support from surrounding departments to provide water, foam, and manpower.

Smoke was seen as far away as Wellston and Hamden.

More on this story to come as it develops.

Vinton County Emergency Management Director Bill Faught posted to social a shelter-in-place order was issued Thursday for Wilkesville due to the initial uncertainty of the thick smoke produced by the fire, but was lifted Friday morning.

More than 7,000 residents were without power.

Faught said the blaze involved a mineral-based oil used to insulate transformers within the plant. Due to the nature of the material involved, fire crews are allowing parts of the fire to burn out, while maintaining suppression efforts surrounding the transformer. No one was injured

Faught said there were no hazardous chemical releases, and the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is on-site to monitor air quality and supervise clean-up efforts.

To bolster local efforts, resources from across the state were activated through the State Fire Chiefs' Emergency Response Plan. Equipment was en route to the scene from as far away as Washington and Franklin Counties

The plant, located in Vinton County, uses natural gas to power turbines that produce electricity for the Eastern part of the United States. The gas has been turned off and is not considered to be a danger at this time.

"We want to thank all the first responders and emergency personnel for their swift actions in containing the fire," said Corey Lyons, a spokesperson for the Rolling Hills Generating Plant. "Our top priority remains the safety of the community and the environment."

Wilkesville Mayor Matt Smith posted to social media, “Thank you to all first responders and especially all of our firefighters, the Wilkesville fire department and all other the departments on scene. Please pray for our firefighters.”