Haz Waste Almost Gone From Apex Fire Site

Apex, N.C. — The final debris from a hazardous waste fire three months ago at the Environmental Quality Industrial Services facility in Apex should be removed by next week, officials said Friday.

A fire at the plant on Oct. 5 sent a plume of smoke over much of the town, and local officials called for about 17,000 residents to evacuate in case the smoke contained toxic gases.

The residents were allowed to return a day later, and subsequent state testing has turned up no evidence of any short- or long-term health threats.

EQ has been hauling containers of hazardous waste away from the site in recent weeks, and Apex Mayor Keith Weatherly said all of the waste should be off the site by next week.

Apex officials hope to block any attempt by EQ to rebuild the site, and state officials are considering tighter regulations on other hazardous waste facilities.