Century Swears In Council Member Three Weeks After Resignation
January 24, 2017
A Century council member that resigned less than a month ago was sworn in as a council member Monday night for a term that might last just a few week.
Last fall, Ben Boutwell was forced to submit his resignation from the council effective the first of this year in order to run an unsuccessful campaign for mayor. The current council re-appointed Boutwell to succeed himself…for now.
The council seat will be up in a special election in February. Boutwell has already qualified to run for the seat.
Pictured top: Ben Boutwell (center) is sworn in as a member of the Century Town Council Monday night by Town Clerk Leslie Howington and Mayor Henry Hawkins. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Crime Fighting Duo — A Deputy And His Dog — Present Library Program
January 24, 2017
Escambia County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Joseph Marcum and his K-9 partner Benga took part in a special Community Hereos Story Time Monday morning at the Molino Branch Library. The crime fighting duo taught children about what to do in the event of an emergency. They also demonstrated how they are trained to work together as a team. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
IP Explosion: Monitoring Local Creeks For Chemical Impacts
January 24, 2017
The Escambia County Natural Resources Management Division is implementing a monitoring plan for waterways in the Cantonment area to keep watch from or any possible impact from Sunday night’s explosion at International Paper.
“Chemicals of concern” were deposited on both sides of Highway 29, according to county officials. Highway 29 is located on a ridge that generally divides the two major watersheds — Escambia and Perdido — in Escambia County.
The county will begin a monitoring program in adjacent waterways for indicators for any chemicals from the explosion.
The monitoring will occur at both Eleven Mile Creek (to the west of Highway 29) and Big Rock Creek (to the east of Highway 29) for an increase of pH and/or decrease of dissolved oxygen. Officials said local creeks are generally slightly acidic with a pH around 6.0 and the black liquor has a reported pH of between 12-13.
Preliminary results Monday showed no impact on Eleven Mile Creek; results were not complete from Big Rock Creek. The sampling will continue through a couple of rain events to monitor for any changes.
Pictured top: Crews work to clean Highway 29 and Highway 95A near the International Paper mill in Cantonment on Monday. NorthEscambia.com photo by Kristi Barbour, click to enlarge.
IP Explosion: Tuesday’s Latest On What Happened, The Cleanup
January 24, 2017
International Paper official said Monday that their Cantonment mill experienced significant structural damage to the largest pulp digester as well as the power house during an explosion Sunday night. There were no injuries.
The incident released a mixture of wood fiber, water and pulping liquor into the surrounding community.
Response teams are working with local, state and federal agencies to provide information for those impacted. The company has entered into a “Unified Command” with Escambia County EMA, Escambia County Public Safety, Florida Department of Health, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection and the EPA. The command worked Tuesday to clear roadways, assess impacted areas, provide direct outreach to more than 40 residents and implement a remediation plan.
IP has hired contractors to develop and implement plans to clean up and dispose of the discharged material as quickly as possible. The company said they are providing all necessary support and resources to the local community and residents as the cleanup continues.
A major part of the cleanup Monday focused on Highway 29 from Woodbury Circle to Muscogee Road. Both lanes of the major north-south artery were closed Sunday night following the explosion. The roadway was covered with “black liquor”, according to the Florida Highway Patrol. Black liquor is a skin, eye and respiratory irritant, the FHP said in a news release.
The black liquor was very slick on the highway. Crews worked to spread sand on Highway 29 and then collected a mixture of sand and black liquor from road surface. The roadway was also pressure washed. By about 9 p.m. Monday, over 24 hours after the explosion, the northbound lane of Highway 29 were re-opened as the clean up continued in the southbound lanes. The southbound lanes were open by about 2 a.m. Tuesday.
IP advised that anyone having contact with the discharged material would should wash the affected area for 15 minutes with soap and water. If you are experiencing skin irritation or respiratory issues, see your doctor. Avoid contact with your eyes and mouth. If the materials have come into contact with your vehicle, please thoroughly wash your vehicle and avoid contact with the material.
No Injuries As Explosion Rips Through International Paper In Cantonment
January 23, 2017
An explosion ripped through the International Paper plant in Cantonment Sunday night, but there were no injuries reported.
A black, slippery substance covered the area around the plant, including several hundred feet of Highway 29, while residents as far away as Santa Rosa County reported hearing or feeling the explosion. Related story: Black Information Released On Black Substance, Clean Up.
The 911 calls reporting the explosion began about 7:38 p.m. with large response from multiple fire and emergency units. They arrived to find vehicles sliding around Highway 29, but no active fire reported. All employees were accounted for with no reports of any injuries or fatalities, according to Joy Tsubooka, spokesperson for Escambia County.
At least one building in the IP facility suffered structural damage on multiple stories. Plant officials were evaluating the damage Sunday night.
For a photo gallery, click here.
Escambia County Fire Rescue remained on the scene until just before midnight.
Highway 29 from Woodbury Circle to Morris Avenue and Muscogee Road from 297A to Highway 29 were closed. There are no school closures; all Escambia County Schools are to be open as usual on Monday according to Superintendent Malcolm Thomas.
There were no evacuations ordered.
The Florida Department of Environmental Protection also responded to the explosion scene, with representative assessing the situation.
International Paper staff with questions about reporting to work were asked to contact their immediate supervisor.
For a photo gallery, click here.
Related story: All Escambia Schools Are Open On Monday
Related story: Road Closures
Related story: Black Substance Covers Area Around Plant
Pictured top: Emergency crews on the scene following an explosion at International Paper in Cantonment Sunday night. Pictured below: First responders coordinate their response efforts from a command post at IP. Pictured bottom: A vehicle that was passing the mill at the time of the explosion covered in a black substance. Reader submitted photos by Taylor Nezovich and others for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
IP Explosion: Information Released On Black Substance, Clean Up
January 23, 2017
UPDATE 9:45 a.m.:
International Paper released the following statement Monday morning:
“We experienced a manufacturing process failure that released a mixture of wood fiber, water and pulping liquor into the surrounding area. If you or your pets have had contact with the materials, please wash the affected area for 15 minutes with soap and water. If you are experiencing skin irritation or respiratory issues, please see your doctor. Avoid contact with your eyes and mouth.
“For those nearby the facility, we are working with response agencies from the county and state and will have additional information as it becomes available.
If the materials have come into contact with your vehicle, please thoroughly wash your vehicle and avoid contact with the material.”
ORIGINAL STORY:
Ash and a sticky black oily substance covered the area around the International Paper mill in Cantonment Sunday night.
A spokesperson for International Paper told NorthEscambia.com that the substance was “pulp material”, but did not provide any specific chemical or substance name.
“Ash and pulp material may be present in areas around the mill and roads. If you come in contact with the pulp material (which is a sticky substance), it is advised that you immediately wash your hands with warm or cold water and vinegar. Avoid contact with your eyes and mouth. If your vehicle comes in contact with the pulp material or Ash, you are encouraged to wash your vehicle,” Janice Holmes of IP said in an email to NorthEscambia.com.
Holmes did not respond to questions seeking more specific information about “pulp material”.
An statement from Escambia County, issued over an hour after the explosion, said, “Residents near the plant may see ash falling as a result. It is not hazardous and can be washed off skin with a mild soap and water”.
Numerous vehicles were covered by the substance as they traveled in front of the mill at the time of the explosion. Drivers reported that the oily substance caused vehicles to slide around Highway 29. The slick material also slowed the response of emergency personal following the explosion.
Highway 29 was shutdown due to the substance from Woodberry Circle to Morris Avenue.
Related story: No Injuries As Explosion Rips Through International Paper In Cantonment
Related story: All Escambia Schools Are Open On Monday
Related story: Road Closures
Pictured: Just a few of the vehicle photos received after an IP mill explosion in Cantonment Sunday night. Pictured bottom: The substance covers Highway 29. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Vehicles Collide Due To Pedestrian Standing In Highway 29
January 23, 2017
Two vehicles collided in Molino Sunday afternoon as a driver reportedly slammed on brakes to avoid a woman standing in Highway 29.
The accident happened about 4:30 p.m. on Highway 29 near Stout Road as the driver of a Buick braked suddenly and was rear-ended by the driver of a Hyundai. The woman was in the roadway was not hit, and there were no serious injuries to either driver.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office was seen taking the woman in the roadway into custody. There was no word on her identity or if she faced any charges.
The accident remains under investigation by the Florida Highway Patrol. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Firefighters Battle Molino Grass Fire
January 23, 2017
A grass fire Sunday afternoon on Highway 29 near Rawhide Lane near Molino spread quickly due to wind before being extinguished by the Molino Station of Escambia Fire Rescue. There were no structures damaged or threatened. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Missing Cantonment Teen Found Safe
January 23, 2017
A Cantonment teen missing since Thursday was located safely on Sunday, according to family members and KlaasKids.
Faith Campbell, 16, was last seen on Rittenbury Road on January 19.
Circumstances surrounding her disappearance have not been released.
Flood Warning For Escambia River
January 23, 2017
A flood warning continues for the Escambia River near Century until late Tuesday night.
Late Sunday night, the river stage was 15.4 feet. No flooding was occurring, but minor flooding was forecast.
The flood stage is 17 feet, and the Escambia River is forecast to rise above flood stage to 17.1 feet on Tuesday morning. The river will fall below flood stage late Tuesday night.
At 17 feet, considerable flooding of lowlands will occur.
File photo.