Alcohol plume from bourbon fire out of Franklin County

[TexasTowelie]

A 23-mile alcohol plume on the Kentucky River has made its way out of Franklin County as of Sunday afternoon, Franklin County Emergency Management Director Tommy Russell said.

The Kentucky Energy and Environment Cabinet reported in a release that the leading edge of the plume is between Owenton and Carrollton and should reach the Ohio River early Monday morning.

Once it reaches the Ohio, officials expect it to dissipate quickly. There could be some impact to aquatic life immediately where the two rivers meet.

The alcohol plume is the result of spills from a late-night fire Tuesday at the Jim Beam warehouse on the Woodford-Franklin County line. The fire destroyed about 45,000 barrels of young Jim Beam bourbon, and debris from the fire went into nearby Glenns Creek and then into the Kentucky River. Lowered oxygen levels are leading to fish kills.

Read more: https://www.state-journal.com/news/alcohol-plume-from-bourbon-fire-out-of-franklin-county/article_6c595144-a0e6-11e9-bcc4-6f3238e683e8.html
(Frankfort State-Journal)

Unfortunately, there were many fish killed from the alcohol plume while the fish that survived had a massive hangover.

[Rhiannon12866]

1. And people drink this stuff!

[TexasTowelie]

4. That doesn't include me.

I never was much of a bourbon or whiskey drinker. I've stuck to vodka, Grand Marnier, 99 schnapps, and 8% malt liquor for the last 6 years.

[Rhiannon12866]

5. I have 10 years sober as of last April - and I can't say I miss it.

And when it begins sounding good to me, I just remember how many I've known who have died. It really is poison. I don't begrudge anyone a glass of wine with dinner, but there are some of us with the genetic predisposition that makes it impossible to stop. And those poor fish had no choice...

[CDerekGo]

2. ?

Why isn't there a retention pond to prevent this from happening? I realize it may have never happened before, but let's face it, Jim Beam is established brand (and well funded I imagine) preventative measures should now be taken.

[TexasTowelie]

3. They should have the funds.

I read that the loss was somewhere around $50 million.