la columna de humo negro se ve a 30 kilómetros

A massive fire caused alarm and led to the evacuation of at least one hundred people on Thursday morning at a Fademac paint warehouse in Francisco Álvarez.

A thick column of black smoke, resulting from the burning chemicals, was visible from up to 30 kilometers away. The blaze not only consumed paints and chemical substances within the premises but also fiber membranes and appliances, as the site additionally served as a storage facility.

Approximately 25 fire brigades were on site, and traffic on San Martín and Chilecito streets was blocked. Furthermore, Sarmiento train service was suspended on the Moreno-Mercedes line.

The operation also involved the Buenos Aires Provincial Police Incident Command, volunteer firefighters, the Red Cross, and ecological police. Concurrently, air quality tests were being conducted to assess the specific pollution risks in the immediate area and its surroundings.

By midday, Clarín learned from emergency operation sources that the fire had been brought under control.

“The smoke is becoming less dense. It is confined within the industrial premises and will not spread to neighboring homes. This is a type of fire involving materials that firefighters are accustomed to handling,” explained Fabián García, Provincial Civil Defense Director.

According to official statements, “these are companies that also function as storage sites. That’s why there were membranes, paints, and new appliances.”

“This is a long-duration fire. Afterward, cooling and debris removal will be necessary. We will certainly be working all day today,” García added. He continued: “Evacuation is being carried out in the blocks where the smoke is drifting. Security in the area will be strengthened to reassure residents about the safety of their homes. Additionally, there’s a center for evacuees at the Francisco Álvarez municipal delegation.”

Early in the day, police cordoned off the area and evacuated the warehouse workers. According to initial reports, the flames were sparked by a welder’s sparks.

Although the fire zone is surrounded by warehouses and factories, authorities began evacuating residents from nearby homes in the surrounding blocks due to the toxicity of the massive black smoke plume. Operational sources emphasized the critical importance of preventing the smoke from descending to ground level, to avert the risk of respiratory intoxications.

“We were watching some workers constructing a new section; they were welding, a spark flew, they couldn’t control the fire, and they raised the alarm that it was catching fire,” stated Joel, a worker from a factory adjacent to the warehouse.

He further detailed that chemicals, solvents, and paint – all highly toxic substances – are stored at the site. “The plant, the surrounding area, and all nearby blocks were evacuated,” the worker added.

Other accounts gathered by Clarín in the area suggested that this was not the first fire at that particular warehouse, nor at others in the neighborhood.

“While the fire remains active, the situation is under control. We are coordinating with firefighters and implementing prevention measures in the surrounding blocks. There is no chance of the fire spreading beyond the perimeter. We are awaiting expert assessments and legal requirements. Traffic is managed,” added the Civil Defense official.

“There is a risk of structural collapse. The incident commander decided to use only one hydrant to attack from above, to avoid endangering firefighters. Additionally, efforts are underway to prevent internal spread,” the official stated, adding: “There is no risk from the toxic cloud. Environmental analyses are being conducted. Prolonged exposure should be avoided, but we want to reassure everyone that it is not dangerous.”

Maximiliano Romanzuck, a pulmonologist with the Argentine Association of Respiratory Medicine, explained to Clarín that the smoke can be “highly contaminating for the airways, both due to direct irritant effects on the respiratory system and the systemic inflammatory response it can trigger.”

What makes this smoke more problematic compared to other fires? “This is toxic smoke; depending on the paint type, it may contain lead, mercury, cadmium – substances that become highly volatile upon contact with fire. There’s also the burning of solvents or thinners that can contain formaldehyde and other pollutants, as well as particulate matter (the term for airborne particles, a key air quality indicator), which are highly irritating and a significant risk factor,” he described.

Proximity to the fire is also a crucial factor. “Because higher smoke concentration means a greater likelihood of airway contaminants, but let’s not forget that particulate matter can travel up to 1,000 km,” he concluded.

Daniel Colodenco, former president of the association, highlighted the particulate matter: “In addition to carbon monoxide, the smoke can contain fine particulate matter and toxic gases produced by the combustion of solvents, resins, and other chemical compounds. The effects can impact both children and adults, but especially those suffering from chronic respiratory diseases such as asthma, COPD.”

Beyond the preventive evacuation, recommendations include avoiding prolonged exposure to the smoke and wearing face masks or coverings, at least until the smoke dissipates.

This incident occurred just one day after a fire at a gas cylinder depot in Merlo, which left two seriously injured individuals in intensive care.

A fire at a gas cylinder depot caused panic on Wednesday in Mariano Acosta, a town within the Merlo district of Buenos Aires province, where residents awoke to the sound of exploding gas cylinders flying through the air. As hours passed, details about how the incident unfolded began to emerge.

The official report, which Clarín accessed this morning, stated that the fire reportedly started when an electric kettle was plugged in “in an environment with a possible gas leak, which is believed to have led to an explosion causing second and third-degree burns.”

(Clarín/University of San Andrés Master’s Program)