WOONSOCKET, R.I. (WPRI) — A fire at a former chemical plant in Woonsocket raised concerns with area residents over air quality.

The fire completely destroyed the abandoned building at 20 Privilege St. early Monday morning.

The Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (DEM) told 12 News on Tuesday that it’s continuing to monitor the area and take samples while the cleanup is underway.

The department is working with local, state and federal agencies, including the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), to address any potential impacts.

While smoke from a fire is always carcinogenic, the DEM said Woonsocket’s hazmat team did not detect any hazardous chemicals at ground level around the remnants of the mill.

Harris Pond is located directly behind the mill, but is technically in Massachusetts. The EPA will be leading the sampling of the pond, but the DEM said its staff onsite have not noticed any negative impacts.

The DEM said the mill’s basement is retaining most of the water used to knock down the fire. The city is reportedly planning to pump the water out and store it in a tank. The DEM will then work with the city to sample and treat the water at a wastewater treatment facility.

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