OSHKOSH, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – Firefighters say a white residue that has emerged in a neighborhood after a fire is harmless.
“It was kind of a slippery, slimy, white powder. Obviously, there was a lot of water from the sprinkler system,” explained, John Holland, with the Oshkosh Fire Department.
Holland says the run-off was the result of a fire sparked by static electricity.
It happened at A.P. Nonweiler, a company that makes industrial coatings and paints, just after 6 p.m. Monday.
Holland tells FOX 11 everyone got out safely.
“The problem started when the fire melted some plastic, holding a chemical called titanium dioxide, that was stored close by. Once that stuff got wet, it just started sliding all over the place.”
A.P. Nonweiler, Vice President Dennis Lewandowski, says the chemical is a dirt pigment that makes products white.
“This is what makes your paper white, this is what makes your toothpaste white.”
Both the fire department and Lewandowski say the substance is harmless.
“There is no danger to any of the neighbors, it just looked a lot worst then it was.” It’s a dirt, that’s really all that it is; dirt. But it’s just whiter than usual.”
The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health does not recommend any protection for skin or eyes when dealing with titanium dioxide.
The company is also working in partnership with the Department of Natural Resources.
The DNR says the chemical did not cause any type of environmental threat.
