Lake Monroe tested, deemed safe after fire fighting chemicals contained
MONROE, N.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS) — Monroe officials closed Lake Monroe to test for chemicals after an early-morning fire.
There were precautionary concerns about firefighting chemicals entering the water supply. The city closed the lake around 12:13 p.m. and reopened it around 1 p.m.
Officials reported an early morning house fire at 1901 Lake Monroe Drive. The family inside the home safely escaped without injuries, but the home was a total loss.
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The call came in around 2 a.m., and four stations responded to the scene. During the response, Stack Road Station 14 firefighters deployed a Class A firefighting foam agent (SILV-EX Plus) as part of the firefighting efforts. Runoff from the firefighting efforts entered a creek inlet and then into Lake Monroe.
Officials maintain the foam does not contain any hazardous chemicals that would threaten the water quality, so there is no risk to the city’s water supply. The Monroe Fire Department’s Hazmat Team made additional efforts to contain any floating foam residue and prevent it from spreading.
The City of Monroe’s Water Resources staff has worked closely with the North Carolina Division of Water Quality over the incident. N.C. DWQ advised that water resources staff followed all the proper measures and said no further action was necessary.
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Water Resources staff conducted a precautionary visual inspection of the lake before reopening and determined no risk to the City’s water supply and quality. According to city officials, Lake Twitty, just northeast of the city, is Monroe’s primary water source.
According to the county’s website, Union County Water is the water and wastewater utility service provider to the unincorporated areas in Union County and all of the municipalities except Monroe, Marshville, and Wingate.
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