On 16 October 2019 a fire took place in the EU, Alytus City Municipality, Lithuania, at an oil refinery and tire manufacturer Ekologistika, which blazed for ten days before the courageous firefighters were able to extinguish the flames.  During the blaze a local water and milk consumption/toxicity restriction was sent to residents, which was lifted weeks later on 9 Nov. However the aftermath of the firefighting left a basement floor filled with 50,000m3 of highly toxic oil sludge water, which is seeping into the earth at a rate of 8-10cm/day, and here's where the story is taking a turn for the tragic.  The National Environmental Ministry (Aplinkos Ministerija) has stepped in and proclaimed the toxic sludge safe to run through the city wastewater treatment plant, "because studies have shown that no toxic substances were detected in the water", and flushed into the nearby Nemunas river.  This despite municipal wastewater dept's (Dzūkijos vandenų) findings to the contrary(a segment of the wastewater processing plant's live processing culture died when exposed to the toxins, and locals witnessing wildlife dying within a considerable radius nearby, see linked video of rabbit dying).  

This is an EU issue and local municipal offices, including Dzūkijos Water, and the Mayor's office, need outside support in the form of emergency resources and EU expertise and oversight to prevent a cascading environmental disaster.

A huge acknowledgement to the local mayor's office of Nerijus Cesiulis for working on the front lines fire crews to extinguish the flames, and for keeping residents updated via facebook (https://www.facebook.com/Cesiulis/)  (good news report).  And to the Dzūkijos Water for not caving to national administration pressure in flushing the toxic remainder downstream and beginning an outreach campaign seeking international help.  https://alytausgidas.lt/naujiena/29104-issaugokim-nemuna-kviecia-gyventojai-tersti-upes-nenori-ir-nuotekas-i-upe-valantys-specialistai

Facts:

• A fire took place in Alytus city,  2000 m2 territory of tire manufacturer “Ekologistika”.
• The fire burned for 10 days (started on 16 October).
• Necessary tests of black oil sludge water composition/toxicology results have not been conducted or released. Basic testing has not been completed.
• The Environmental Ministry verbally suggests dumping water from oil sludge to the Nemunas river.
• The Ministry recommends not eating any fruits or vegetables that have been grown around the area of fire event.
• Cow milk from regions nearby firespot were restricted to use or sell until the evening of the 9 Nov 2019. 
• There is a lot of miscommunication and lack of communication within government and Alytus municipality.
• According to the municipality, the fire employed 268 firefighters and eight drivers and excavators.
• A total of € 213,075.05 in support for firefighters and emergency response was collected from civilians and private companies;
• The massive fire-related pollution led to the partial evacuation of the city and even the military helped rescue civilians.

Update: Mayor Cesiulis has released a statement regarding local testing of the oil sludge water, and the specific VOC’s(volatile organic chemicals) which are contained at 300-600+ times safe exposure levels, and condemns the National Environmental Ministry’s(Aplinkos Ministerija) recommendations(requires translation).

https://www.facebook.com/Cesiulis/posts/736304626876171