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UPDATED: Helicopters to Drop Water, Residents Told To Stay Inside, Large Fire Still Blazing At Fibertech, Highway Closed

Last updated on Friday, April 13, 2018

(MITCHELL) - The Air National Guard out of Shelbyville has made plans to bring in helicopters to drop water on the Fibertech fire.

The water will be obtained from the Rogers Group quarry on IN-60.

As of yesterday, two firefighters were hospitalized for smoke inhalation.

Earlier - Marion Township Fire Department Incident Command from the Fibertech fire is advising all residents of Mitchell that are in the path of heavy smoke to stay indoors if at all possible, until further notice.

On Thursday night officials expanded the "shelter in place" to residents north of Mitchell to Yockey Road and those between State Road 37 and Meridian Road.

Firefighters remain on scene Friday morning trying to contain the massive blaze.

Residents are encouraged to stay indoors to avoid breathing in the smoke.

Due to a plume of smoke reaching north into the North Lawrence Community Schools area, personnel affiliated with the Lawrence County Emergency Management System, the Indiana State Fire Marshall and Superintendent Gary Conner ​feel it is necessary to close schools today, ​for the safety of​ students and staff. All after school activities and sporting events and practices are also cancelled.

Mitchell Community Schools are also closed along with other area schools.

The Lawrence County Sheriff's Department says if you are in the area of smoke, please do not wash your clothing with others and use dawn dish soap to clean them and your person.

At 11 p.m. Thursday, Campbellburg And Pleasant Run Fire Departments have been requested to send tankers to Fiber Tech.

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Photo taken at the scene of the fire late Thursday.

Anyone wanting to drop off water, Gatorade, food, or rags for the firefighters to wipe off their faces or towels to ice down for them to keep cool can drop the items off at the Marion Township Volunteer Fire Department on State Road 37.

Earlier - Valerie Luchauer, Lawrence County's emergency management director, also requested Mitchell residents living north of Main Street and west of the north-south bound railroad tracks "shelter in place" tonight and wait for further instructions.

The smoke is so thick there is zero visibility.

Click here to watch a video of the smoke still bellowing from the fire scene.

burning mulch piles.jpg

more burning mulch.jpg

Photos by Justin Burnette

State Road 60 West is closed from the 37/60 West Intersection to Thompson Lane/SR 60 West Intersection due to a large fire at Fibertech until further notice.

At 3:30 p.m. the fire was still burning and a call went out to all available firefighters to report to the scene.

Marion Township Rural Fire Department Chief Paul Gillespie says the fire started in stacked mulch piles.

"All the mulch piles caught on fire, because they decided to stack the crap sky high," Gillespie added.

Firefighters from every department in the county and Orange County are on site battling the blaze which started around 11:40 a.m.

High winds are hampering firefighters battling the blaze and spreading the dark smoke, making it a hazard for drivers.

Motorists and residents are asked to stay away from the scene.

Orange County firefighters are working two large woods fires. Washington County firefighters are fighting a fire on Becks Mill Road and a large fire is going on in Southern Dubois County and they are requesting Crawford County to assist.

Residents are asked to not burn brush piles if at all possible due to wind conditions.

The Shoals Fire Department has requested residents refrain from ANY burning over the next two days due to high winds.

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