Fredericktown Fire Department Provides Update on Critical Mineral Recovery Plant Fire

Fredericktown, Mo. (KFMO) - The Fredericktown Fire Department continues work to extinguish the remaining smoldering fire at the Critical Mineral Recovery plant located at 815 Highway 00. According to a department update released at 8 p.m. on October 31, smoke is now intermittent, and fire crews are receiving additional support from specialized contractors as well as state and federal partners to safely mitigate the site. Fredericktown officials anticipate ongoing work over the next several days, keeping the plant site active.

An evacuation order initially affected only residents near the facility, specifically along and north of Madison County Road 277, and emergency personnel informed residents door-to-door during the early hours of the incident. Residents seeking more information can contact the Fredericktown Fire Department.

Air quality continues to be a focus, with monitoring conducted by the EPA and Missouri Department of Natural Resources. Officials report no concerns for air quality beyond the original evacuation area. The city’s public drinking water system remains unaffected, and no issues have been found in Madison County Public Water Service District #1, which did experience a brief, unrelated boil water advisory due to a main break in North Village Creek, now resolved.

Response efforts continue under the coordination of state, federal, and specialized contractors focused on environmental protection. If conditions shift, the Fredericktown Fire Department will promptly notify the public. Additional updates are expected as the situation develops.