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Otley fertilizer storage fire still smoldering on Day 2; Residents encouraged to evacuate

Otley fertilizer storage fire still smoldering on Day 2; Residents encouraged to evacuate
UP IN A LITTLE BIT. AND THANK YOU. A FERTILIZER STORAGE BUILDING FIRE IN OTLEY IS STILL SENDING SMOKE INTO TOWN. MORE THAN 24 HOURS AFTER THE FLAMES FIRST SPARKED. vlog SENIOR REPORTER TODD MAGEL WAS THERE WHEN PEOPLE WERE TOLD TO EVACUATE YESTERDAY. HE’S BACK IN OTLEY TONIGHT. TODD, WHAT ARE YOU SEEING NOW? LAUREN JODI, WHAT WE’RE SEEING NOW IS A REALLY POWERFUL WIND, AND THAT IS THE PROBLEM HERE IN NOTLEY. YOU CAN SEE WHAT’S LEFT OF THE FERTILIZER BUILDING BEHIND ME HERE. THE THE FIRE IS STILL SMOLDERING. LOOK AT ALL THE WHITE SMOKE. IT’S NOW BLOWING INTO PEOPLE’S HOMES AND YARDS HERE IN TOWN. THAT’S WHY LAW ENFORCEMENT IS RECOMMENDING A VOLUNTARY EVACUATION OR SHELTERING IN PLACE. THERE’S NOT MUCH LEFT OF THE STORAGE FACILITY FOR TWO RIVERS COOPERATIVE IN OTLEY, BUT THERE IS JUST ENOUGH SMOLDERING FERTILIZER TO CAUSE CONCERN. IT’S KIND OF POISONOUS TO BREATHE THAT IN, AND WE WE DON’T REALLY WANT TO BE HERE BREATHING THAT IN. DIANNA VAN DONSELAAR LIVES ACROSS THE STREET FROM THE BUILDING. SHE SAYS IN THE 37 YEARS SHE’S LIVED HERE, SHE’S NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE THIS. WHEN THE FIRE STARTED MONDAY, SMOKE SHOT UP OVER THE TOWN AND COULD BE SEEN FOR MILES. FIREFIGHTERS TRIED NOT TO USE TOO MUCH WATER TO KEEP THE FERTILIZER DEBRIS FROM SPREADING. IF YOU TRY TO STIR IT UP, IF YOU TRY TO DO PUT MORE WATER. IF YOU TRY TO DO DIFFERENT THINGS, YOU CAN CAUSE MORE ISSUES. THE FIRE FORCED AN EVACUATION MONDAY. OFFICIALS TOLD RESIDENTS THEY COULD RETURN THAT NIGHT, BUT THE WIND SHIFTED AND NOW THE TOWN IS FILLED WITH SMOKE. THE SULFUR DIOXIDE, I MEAN, CAN BE AN IRRITANT. SO IF SOMEBODY HAS RESPIRATORY ISSUES OR DIFFERENT THINGS THAT ARE PROBABLY GOING TO WANT TO EVACUATE WHERE SOMEBODY DOESN’T. THE SHELTER IN PLACE MIGHT BE THE BEST OPTION FOR THEM. IT’S BEEN A SHOCK. BRIAN DONNELLEY IS THE GENERAL MANAGER FOR TWO RIVERS COOPERATIVE. HE SAYS THE BUILDING AND THE FERTILIZER ARE INSURED. HE’S GRATEFUL NO ONE WAS HURT AND IS HOPING TO GET SOME REPLACEMENT FERTILIZER TO HELP FARMERS IN THE AREA. THEY WILL BE ABLE TO GET US PRODUCT. IT’S JUST A MATTER OF LOGISTICS AND HOW THAT GETS SET UP. BUT LIKE I SAID, I’VE BEEN VERY ENCOURAGED FROM WHAT I’VE SEEN FROM OUR TEAM THIS MORNING AND WHAT WE’RE GETTING PUT TOGETHER. MANY PEOPLE HAVE DECIDED TO SHELTER IN PLACE, BUT DIANE VON DONSELAAR SAYS SHE’S READY TO LEAVE HOME FOR A WHILE. I’M HANGING AROUND FOR A LITTLE BIT TO DO SOME THINGS, AND THEN I’M PROBABLY GOING TO GO INTO PELLA AND STAY WITH MY SON. SO JUST TO BE SAFE, JUST TO BE SAFE. YEAH. I KEEP IN MIND THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE IS STILL UNDER INVESTIGATION. THEY THINK THIS FIRE COULD CONTINUE TO SMOLDER FOR A WEEK, AND THEY WON’T BE ABLE TO GET INTO THIS BUILDING UNTIL THAT IS OUT. WE’RE LIVE IN A VERY WINDY OTLEY TODD MAGEL vlog EIGHT NEWS. IOWA’S NEWS LEADER.
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Otley fertilizer storage fire still smoldering on Day 2; Residents encouraged to evacuate
UPDATE: As of Tuesday morning, Marion County authorities are recommending evacuation in and around Otley due to burning sulfur.Residents are asked to contact Marion County Emergency Management for assistance. You can watch the full story in the video above.About 100 people were evacuated Monday afternoon from around the site of a fire at Two Rivers Cooperative, located at 311 Business Highway 163. It's not yet known what caused the fire at the fertilizer storage facility, which was still smoldering Monday evening, with flames and large plumes of smoke still visible.Marion County Sheriff Jason Sandholdt initially told vlog around 1:30 p.m. that neighbors of the co-op were voluntarily leaving their homes "just in case."About 30 minutes later Sandholdt said the evacuation was made mandatory for anyone within a half-mile radius around the property due to chemicals stored at the co-op. That's about 100 of the town's 800 people.Officials say the building full of fertilizer contained more than 1000 tons of urea, pot ash, mono ammonium phosphate and sulfur. They say it could burn for days.Travel around Otley should be back to normal, other than roads closed directly around the site of the fire. No injuries have been reported. » Subscribe to vlog's YouTube page» Download the free vlog app to get updates on the go: Apple | Google PlayWATCH: Fire reported at farm co-op in Otley, IowaRAW VIDEO: Otley, Iowa co-op catches fireRAW VIDEO: Smoke billows from fire at co-op in Otley, Iowa

UPDATE: As of Tuesday morning, Marion County authorities are recommending evacuation in and around Otley due to burning sulfur.

Residents are asked to contact Marion County Emergency Management for assistance. You can watch the full story in the video above.

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About 100 people were evacuated Monday afternoon from around the site of a fire at Two Rivers Cooperative, located at 311 Business Highway 163.

It's not yet known what caused the fire at the fertilizer storage facility, which was still smoldering Monday evening, with flames and large plumes of smoke still visible.

Marion County Sheriff Jason Sandholdt initially told vlog around 1:30 p.m. that neighbors of the co-op were voluntarily leaving their homes "just in case."

About 30 minutes later Sandholdt said the evacuation was made mandatory for anyone within a half-mile radius around the property due to chemicals stored at the co-op. That's about 100 of the town's 800 people.

Officials say the building full of fertilizer contained more than 1000 tons of urea, pot ash, mono ammonium phosphate and sulfur. They say it could burn for days.

Travel around Otley should be back to normal, other than roads closed directly around the site of the fire.

No injuries have been reported.

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WATCH: Fire reported at farm co-op in Otley, Iowa

RAW VIDEO: Otley, Iowa co-op catches fire

RAW VIDEO: Smoke billows from fire at co-op in Otley, Iowa