The City of Monroe Water Resources Department has announced the reopening of Lake Monroe effective immediately.

Lake Monroe was temporarily closed this morning (April 4) for Water Resources staff to conduct water quality testing as a precautionary measure following an early morning house fire at 1901 Lake Monroe Drive which sits adjacent to Lake Monroe.  

The family inside the home safely escaped without injuries. The home was destroyed.

The call came in around 2 a.m. with Stack Road Station 14 as the primary responder with mutual aid assistance from Sandy Ridge Station 12, Lanes Creek Station 11, Griffith Road Station 13, and the Monroe Fire Department.

During the response, Stack Road Station 14 firefighters deployed a Class A firefighting foam agent (SILV-EX Plus) as part of the fire suppression efforts. Runoff from the firefighting efforts entered into a creek inlet and then into Lake Monroe. 

The firefighting foam does not contain any hazardous chemicals that would pose a threat to the water quality of Lake Monroe. There is no risk to the City water supply.

The Monroe Fire Department’s Hazmat Team made additional efforts to contain any floating foam residue and prevent it from moving any further into the lake.

The City of Monroe’s Water Resources staff has been in close coordination with the North Carolina Division of Water Quality. NCDWQ advised that Water Resources Staff followed all the proper measures and no further action is necessary.

Water Resources staff conducted a precautionary visual inspection of the lake prior to reopening and determined there is no risk to the City’s water supply and quality.

For further inquiries about the house fire, please contact the Union County Fire Marshal’s Office at 704-283-3528.