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Winston-Salem officials post guidance for returning home after chemical fire

Fire crews assess the site at the Winston Weaver fertilizer plant in Winston-Salem. Image courtesy of City of Winston-Salem.

Local officials in Winston-Salem are sharing information on what impacted residents can do as they return to their homes after a chemical fire at the Winston Weaver fertilizer plant.

The city posted information on social media late Thursday night that includes recommendations from the federal Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry.

The guide provides safety tips and answers questions including, "Could chemicals from the fire be in houses or yards?"

Minor Barnette is director of the Forsyth County Office of Environmental Assistance and Protection. He says he doesn't expect a dusty type of residue to be in people's houses, but it's always best to take extra precautions, especially if a person still smells smoke or sees something that they didn't before.

"If there's any food sitting out exposed, go ahead and discard it," says Barnette. "And if any clothing has been sitting out and not in a drawer that's closed or a closet with a door, wash it before it's worn. And, you know, if there's a noticeable odor in the house, it would be a good idea to clean tabletops and countertops."

Barnette also says it might be good to change pet food that was left out and wash those containers.

More than 6,000 people were told to evacuate within a one-mile radius of the Weaver fertilizer plant after it caught fire on January 31.

The radius was reduced on Thursday evening.

Follow WFDD's Keri Brown on Twitter @kerib_news

Keri Brown is a multi-award winning reporter and host at 88.5 WFDD. She has been honored with two regional Edward R. Murrow awards for her stories about coal ash, and was named the 2015 radio reporter of the year by the Radio Television Digital News Association of the Carolinas (RTDNAC).Although she covers a variety of topics, her beats are environmental and education reporting.Keri comes to the Triad from West Virginia Public Broadcasting, where she served as the Chief Bureau Reporter for the Northern Panhandle. She produced stories for the state's Public Television and Radio programs and was honored by the West Virginia Associated Press Broadcasters Association for her feature and enterprise reporting.She also served as an adjunct instructor at Wheeling Jesuit University and Bethany College in West Virginia. She worked with the Center for Educational Technologies in Wheeling, WV, and other NASA centers across the country to develop several stories about the use of science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) concepts in the classroom.Keri's journalism career began at WTRF-TV 7 in Wheeling. She worked in several roles at the station, including the head assignment editor. She also was a field producer and assignment manager at WPGH-TV Fox 53 in Pittsburgh.Keri is a graduate of Ohio University. When she's not in the studio or working on a story, she enjoys watching college football with her family, cooking, and traveling.Keri is always looking for another great story idea, so please share them with her. You can follow her on Twitter @kerib_news.

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