The new Walmart fulfillment center, a 2.2 million-square-foot facility in Buck Creek Township, opened last week. Some local firefighters are concerned, saying it is unsafe to cover that massive of a building. Monday, June 19, 2023.
HANCOCK COUNTY — After more than two years of construction, Walmart Inc. opened its massive fulfillment center in Hancock County last week. The 2.2 million-square-foot, three-story facility is located on some 204 acres located at 5259 West 500N, McCordsville.
While the facility had its ceremonial grand opening Thursday, June 15, local firefighters say now the worries begin. County fire departments are the crews that will be called on to deal with any fire or safety issues at the massive facility, and they are concerned.
When a fire broke out at a 1.2 million-square-foot Walmart fulfillment center on March 16, 2022 in Plainfield, more than 400 firefighters from 30 departments in Indiana were called in to help battle the flames. Some of those fire departments were then named in several notices of tort claims seeking damages from the massive fire which destroyed that facility. Walmart representatives claimed that the response to the fire made it worse, citing department orders to shut off the sprinkler system and open the facility’s doors.
The size of the new Hancock County fulfillment and Walmart’s legal response to fire departments’ battle with the Plainfield blaze more than a year ago has local firefighters are on edge.
Captain Tony Bratcher works for Sugar Creek Township Fire Department and is the president of Hancock County Firefighters Local Union 4787 representing SCTFD and firefighters at Buck Creek Township Fire Department. He reached out the Daily Reporter last week, noting local firefighters have spoken out against a building the size of the new center for months with concerns of how it was not designed to keep firefighters safe or secure when battling potential fires there.
“On top of that, these buildings get several years of tax abatements which provide them an avenue to avoid paying their fair share of property taxes, meaning they’re getting free fire service,” Bratcher said.
Bratcher and other county firefighters are upset that Walmart officials are actively suing fire departments who tried to put out the fire in Plainfield to no avail. He believes that officials seem to have turned a deaf ear to the same concerns about fire safety in the warehouse district here in Hancock County.
“We’ll do our job regardless and respond when we’re called, but they build these places, but the county does not have the manpower that would be considered sufficient to respond to issues at these massive places,” Bratcher said.
He noted that Plainfield had more than 30 departments respond to the Walmart fulfillment fire there and it still was not enough.
“My concern is my guys’ safety in those buildings because we are understaffed across the county,” Bratcher said. “To know if we respond and give it our best, it’s not going to be enough if something major happens, and then they (warehouse owners) are going to turn around and go after our departments like they’re doing in Plainfield is just ridiculous.”
Jeannine Gray, Hancock County Council president, said the support of public safety officers and first responders is one of her biggest concerns as a county official. The council is the governing unit that approved tax abatements to businesses in the developmental district.
“I voted for the ones that made sense but certainly not all of them,” Gray said.
She noted there should have been more consideration given at that time to county fire and police departments who are now tasked with dealing with the warehouse district.
“Was there thought into what would happen if and when all these buildings filled up,” Gray asked. “Well, here we are, but the problem is there is only so much money to go around despite what we may want to do. We are working hard to get these departments everything they need to service that fast growing area.”
Gray noted that she does not blame firefighters for one instant for being upset and asking for more support.
“I totally understand and I agree with their concerns,” she said.
Bratcher noted he understood the notion of county officials wanting to attract business, but now that the massive Walmart warehouse, along with many others are up and running in the county, local officials have got to step up and make sure local fire departments have the manpower needed when called.
“While there are a few council members and commissioners who are willing to listen, it’s not enough,” Bratcher said. “We need action and that means having firefighters up there all the time. If that Walmart center in McCordsville burns down, they’re going to try and hold our local fire departments accountable, just like they’re doing in Plainfield.”
Officials with Walmart sent a press release surrounding the opening of the new county center last week, calling it a “next generation” facility, which is expected to employ over 1,000 people by 2025. The building is Walmart’s largest fulfillment center to date and will enable the retailer to fulfill more orders, more quickly, Walmart officials said in the release.
“Indiana is proud to welcome this next generation Walmart fulfillment center, which represents a significant investment in our industry and our people,” said Ann Lathrop, chief strategy officer of the Indiana Economic Development Corporation. “Walmart has long been a good corporate partner in Indiana, and we’re excited to see their commitment grow in Hancock County.”
Bratcher said that progress and a booming business is good until there is an issue, which he believes will come sooner than later.
“We did not ask for these buildings,” Bratcher said. “We didn’t for the longest time even have a fire marshal involved in the construction process and that’s not how it should have been. It doesn’t matter if it’s Walmart or any of those other warehouses up there. We end up sending six to eight firefighters runs to that area for fire alarms and EMS runs a day, and if we don’t get serious and address this problem, it’s going to get a fireman killed.
“The burden has been shifted to the local tax payers who are now paying for fire coverage at those places who are making millions,” he added.
Bratcher and other union firefighters feel the warehouse area in the county is a disaster waiting to happen.
“It’s not a question of if, but when,” Bratcher said. “When something major happens there, it is going to affect every fire department in this county.”
Bratcher said that when firefighters are called to the warehouse area, which happens multiple times each day, they’re being pulled away from local county runs.
“The ladder trucks from Sugar Creek and Greenfield Fire Territory are going to have to make runs there all the time along with multiple engines that then takes manpower away from our medic trucks,” Bratcher said. “Our citizens, our taxpayers are going to have to wait longer for medical help.”
Bratcher said that county officials can sit back and be reactive after a disaster happens or become proactive and make sure departments are properly staffed.
“I want the county to step in and use some of the RDC (Redevelopment Commission) and other funds to help staff our county fire departments,” Bratcher said. “They put these warehouse in Buck Creek Township’s back door and the county must now step up and be responsible and add more firefighters.”
County Commissioner president Bill Spalding noted he wasn’t a county official when decisions were made about the development of the warehouse area. However, he stated newer state legislation offers an opportunity within the language for the payment of operating expenses.
“That is a discussion that is in the infancy, but it really is a possibility for places like Buck Creek Township,” Spalding said. “We are going to try to help some of these departments, particularly Buck Creek who now has to deal with that big industrial commercial area so they can have more people.”
