Lack of answers one year after Walmart facility fire in Plainfield

Plainfield, Indiana – A massive fire tore through a Walmart distribution center in Plainfield a year ago, burning for days and producing huge plumes of thick, black smoke.

According to Seth Brethauer, who lives nearby, “It kind of looked like something you’d see in a movie.” The facility has since been demolished, and a new warehouse is under construction.

The cause of the fire remains unknown, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) investigation is still ongoing.

Ellen Brethauer, Seth’s wife, recalls the smell of smoke that lasted for weeks, saying, “It really smelled of smoke like a campfire on steroids is what I would describe it as.”

Walmart filed tort claims against Plainfield Fire Territory and other departments, alleging that they ordered sprinkler systems to be turned off, making the fire worse. Mildred Parris, a former employee of the now-destroyed facility, expressed relief that everyone made it out safe, stating, “I was very upset and I was just hoping everyone was ok, and I was glad about that.”

Walmart has not provided an update on how many employees were retained or laid off after the fire, and it is uncertain what will occupy the new warehouse.