Last weekend, as the rest of the nation, was preparing for the Super Bowl, the city of Doral was dealing with a massive fire at an energy facility with the flames spreading to 4 different buildings and covering “approximately the size of two football fields.
Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart wrote a letter to Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Michael Regan to share his concerns and to request updates for quality checks of the air, water, and soil.
The Floridian was one of the first news outlets on the scene in Doral. Images of the fire can be seen below:
BREAKING — Massive fire at Waste Management landfill in the City of Doral #flpol pic.twitter.com/fe02nskFV3
— The Floridian (@Floridianpress) February 12, 2023
“I write to express significant concerns regarding the health and wellbeing of my constituents following a massive fire erupting at a renewable energy facility in the city of Doral, Florida, located in my district…according to Miami-Dade Fire Chief Ray Judallah is expected to be ‘a long-term fire, a multi-operational period looking at several days before it can be contained," stated Rep. Diaz-Balart.
He would go on to mention that “The City of Doral, Florida is a vibrant community with approximately 76,000 people, 40 schools, several houses of worship, parks, and more. As parents take their children to schools, as residents commute to and from their workplaces, it is critical that the air each resident breathes is clean, safe, and hazard-free.”
Just before the conclusion of the letter, alongside the requests for quality inspections of air, water, and soil, Diaz-Balart appealed for the sharing of “critical information” concerning necessary updates in a timely fashion in order for citizens to take caution when necessary. Additionally, Diaz-Balart requested that following the conduction of the quality inspections, the information should be shared with local officials and then released to the public.
“I appreciate your consideration of my request, within all applicable rules and regulations and look forward to your timely response on this critical matter,” concluded Rep. Diaz-Balart.
