CHARLESTON, W.Va. — The incident commander at the large warehouse fire last October in Parkersburg received the state’s top environmental award Thursday.
Lubeck Volunteer Fire Department Chief Mark Stewart was given the Cabinet Secretary Environmental Award by state Department of Environmental Protection Secretary Austin Caperton at ceremony at DEP headquarters in Charleston.
Caperton also presented an award to Wood County Commission President Blair Couch, representing first responders who were on the fire scene for several days.
“Chief Stewart and these first responders don’t do what they do to receive awards, but they deserve the highest recognition that the WVDEP can offer,” Caperton said in news release. “They selflessly stepped up to do a dangerous job in order to put out the fire and to gather information about what kind of impact the fire was having on the public health and the environment.”
Stewart is also an assistant state fire marshal.
The blaze at the 420,000-square-foot property, which was storing recyclable plastics for a company called IEI Plastics, sent a plume of smoke billowing over the city and across the Ohio border.
The complete list of 2018 Environmental Award recipients:
· Cabinet Secretary Award: Chief Mark Stewart, Lubeck VFD
· Emergency Response: Emergency Responders to the IEI Warehouse Fire and Wood County Commissioner Blair Couch
· Brownfield and Voluntary Program: The Proctor & Gamble Manufacturing Company
· Education and Community Involvement: Coal River Group
· Education and Community Involvement: Destination: Downtown Oak Hill, WV
· Education and Community Involvement: Lubeck Acres Garden Club
· Education and Community Involvement: Mrs. Brittany Bauer’s Science Class at Wyoming East High School
· Environmental Partnership: Morris Creek Watershed Association
· Environmental Stewardship: Good News Mountaineer Garage
· Environmental Stewardship: Hampshire County Sheriff’s Office
· Environmental Stewardship: Piney Creek Watershed Association
· Environmental Stewardship: Putnam County Solid Waste Authority
· Environmental Volunteer Appreciation: Concerned Citizens of Drawdy Creek
· Most Improved Sewage Treatment Greater Than 400,000 gallons per day: The City of Ronceverte
· Municipal Stormwater: Morgantown Utility Board
· Outstanding Litter Control Officer: Mitchell Barley, Raleigh County Solid Waste Authority
· Safe Dams Award: BSA Summit Group
· Sewage Treatment Greater Than 400,000 gallons per day: The City of White Sulphur Springs
· Sewage Treatment Greater Than 400,000 gallons per day: The Town of Romney