Bevin Bell Factory Fire Update

East Hampton Police are asking people to stay away from the Bevin Bros. Bell Factory, the site of a fire that destroyed the complex early Sunday morning.

Local and area fire departments are continuing to extinguish hot spots within the confines of the structure.

Police also said the local health department is working with the state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) to assess any
remedial actions that need to be taken.

Concerns over chemicals in the factory were lessened after officials reviewed an inventory of what was on the property.

"We have the MSDS [Material Safety Data Sheets] inventory provided by the family and I think that's consistent from what the review from EPA and DEEP and myself," said Thad King, Director of Health for the Chatham Health District. We took a look and it seems consistent. [Matt Bevin] did, through the last couple of years, a reduction in terms of the inventory in order to keep a minimum amount of chemical on site for manufacturing purposes, so there wasn't a whole lot of quantity there. Nothing there really surprised EPA, DEEP or myself.

King said ground water contamination wasn't an issue, either, saying it was all contained in the building and consumed during the fire.

"We're not concerned with any hazardous or toxic condition," King said.

Federal EPA and state DEEP officials have tested the air quality in several areas surrounding the scene throughout the day and have found air quality to be normal.

Smoke continued to billow from the site late Sunday afternoon, but residents have been cleared to resume outdoor activity and the Memorial Day parade will take place on Monday as scheduled.

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The American Red Cross operated a shelter overnight at East Hampton High School for people evacuated from the area around the fire.

The shelter opened before 3 a.m. Sunday, serving 25 people. The Red Cross responded with a team that included a nurse and a mental health counselor to operate the shelter and provide any support needed to residents. Snacks were also provided.

The shelter closed Sunday at approximately 7 a.m.

American Red Cross spokesperson Paul Shipman said the Red Cross also provided canteen service for firefighters at the scene.

“We are thankful for the volunteers who responded to help the community during this major fire,” Shipman said in a press release. “They responded in the middle of the night on a holiday weekend, knowing that their neighbors needed help.”

King and other town officials gave a press conference at 5 p.m. near the burned-out factory.

Officials said that fire suppressant foam has been applied within the building, the fire is out and the smoke has been 99 percent contained. The scene has been turned over to the state and local Fire Marshal’s office for investigation. The cause remains unknown.

More than 300 responders from more than 30 communities helped control this incident, according to officials.

Throughout the day the East Hampton Lions Club had set up shop and was serving free hot dogs, hamburgers, soda and water to those at the scene.

"They need food," Ted Krogh said. "As an ex-fireman, I can appreciate their needing food after so many hours of hard work. That's one of the reasons that our local Lions Club purchased this particular trailer, so that we can respond."

The Lions Club also responded to the Kleen Energy Power Plant explosion in Middletown in 2010.

Krogh and Walters had served up 20 pounds of hamburger and four or five pounds of hot dogs on Sunday.

"They much appreciated it," Walters said.

As the afternoon turned into evening, East Hampton Fire Chief Paul Owen came over to thank Krogh and Walters for their support.

You can look for the Lions Club at the Old Home Days celebration in East Hampton beginning July 12.

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