Federal, State, Local Agencies Provide Update on Facility Fire in Fairfield County

U.S. EPA Region 4, the S.C. Department of Environmental Services (SCDES), S.C. Department of Agriculture (SCDA) and Fairfield County continue to work jointly on the response efforts of the fire at the Healthcare SC facility (home of MLILY mattress manufacturer) in Winnsboro, S.C. As response efforts have transitioned to environmental cleanup, the agencies’ priority is to continue to mitigate any potential impacts to people or the environment. SCDES, local officials and environmental clean-up contractors remain onsite. 

Preliminary data collected during and after the fire do not indicate harmful impacts to air or drinking water in the community.  

“Fairfield County is thankful for the response from our state government, S.C. Department of Environmental Services, S.C. Department of Agriculture, U.S. EPA and the many county, municipal and local fire districts that sent almost 200 firefighters and countless pieces of equipment and fire apparatus,” said Fairfield County Administrator Vic Carpenter. “Our concern now that the fire threat has subsided is to ensure the safety of our citizens and our Fairfield County environment. County staff continue to be a resource to Healthcare SC and to our partner agencies working to ensure that our air, water and soil are clean and safe.” 

Local first responders report all fires at the facility are extinguished although intermittent smoke could still come from the facility. County emergency response officials and EPA Region 4 performed continuous air monitoring from the initial response through noon on Aug. 19. EPA’s air monitoring data indicated that air contaminant levels never exceeded exposure concentrations of concern.  

SCDES continues to monitor potential water runoff impacts from the site. Healthcare SC hired an environmental clean-up contractor to bring large vacuum trucks and temporary storage tanks onsite for removal of water runoff and have constructed a temporary dam to further contain runoff. SCDES meteorologists forecasted rain in the area, so preparations have been made to collect additional runoff generated from potential rain. The collected runoff will be safely disposed of.   

SCDES has been working directly with nearby property owners to keep them informed of steps taken to minimize runoff impacts and to provide any recommendations. SCDES has posted “Environmental Clean-up" signage in areas where remediation efforts are ongoing. 

SCDES also is working closely with Fairfield County and the Town of Winnsboro (the public drinking water utility that serves the community). Public drinking water is monitored continually for compliance with state and federal drinking water standards, and there have been no readings indicating impacts to drinking water provided to customers. There are no anticipated impacts to private drinking wells.