Residents worry about impacts after Fort Smith chemical spill kills fish downstream
By Brett Rains
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POCOLA, Oklahoma (KHBS, KHOG) — Concern is growing in Pocola, Oklahoma, after thousands of gallons of chemicals spilled in Fort Smith and flowed downstream, raising questions about long-term environmental impacts.
Emergency managers said the spill happened Saturday, May 2, when a holding tank ruptured at the C&S Chemicals facility on Highway 271 in Fort Smith. Approximately 89,000 gallons of chemicals were released into the environment, primarily acidified aluminum sulfate — commonly used to disinfect poultry houses — along with nearly 3,000 gallons of sulfuric acid, according to the Environmental Protection Agency and Arkansas Division of Environmental Quality.
Most of the chemicals entered storm drains and flowed into a nearby drainage ditch, moving downstream toward Oklahoma. Crews are working to neutralize the waterway by reducing acidity levels.
The drainage creek runs from Fort Smith to the Poteau River. An Arkansas Game and Fish spokesperson said crews have counted more than 300 dead minnows and sunfish so far, but residents across the state line say they’ve seen far more.
“There are thousands of fish dead in this creek,” said Jerry Vaughn, who lives along Highway 112 near the contaminated drainage creek. “My children, my grandchildren, fished in this creek for 15 years or 16 years. Lots of fish, and they’re dead. They’re just dead.”
Vaughn lives next to the creek where crews are currently testing and aerating the water after the spill. He said he’s especially worried about what happens as the water flows into a swamp before reaching the Poteau River — and what that could mean for his beehives.
“From here, this creek goes into a huge swamp before it gets into the Poteau River,” Vaughn said. “I have 14 beehives. Those bees work that swamp. And from the research I’ve done, that aluminum sulfate gets into my bees. It’s going to kill my hives.”
Remediation efforts are expected to take two to four weeks, according to emergency managers. Vaughn said he fears the impacts could last much longer.
“I don’t think I’m being told everything,” Vaughn said. “The problem is the aluminum sulfate. It’s not going away. It’s going to be a long-term problem. I’m afraid that long-term problem is just going to be my problem instead of the people that dumped this into the creek.”
In an email sent to 40/29 News, an EPA spokesperson said the Arkansas Division of Environmental Quality, with assistance from Oklahoma, is now the lead agency monitoring the cleanup. C&S Chemicals is responsible for all cleanup costs, and a company spokesperson said the total cost is still being determined.
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