Firefighters Remain On Site of Montgomery County’s Resource Recovery Facility

For Immediate Release: Sunday, December 11, 2016

Single-family Residential Trash and Recycling Unaffected; Commercial Services Temporarily Diverted to Other Facilities Due to the Ongoing Fire Efforts

Firefighters continue to be on the scene of the Resource Recovery Facility (RRF) located at 21204 Martinsburg Road in Dickerson where a fire broke out on Thursday, December 8 at approximately 6:30 p.m.

The fire was located in the tipping building, which is the area where trucks drive in to dump the waste and then drive out. Firefighters contained the fire within an hour. The fire did not spread beyond the structure of the tipping room.

Although the fire is contained, it may take several more days before it is fully extinguished. Until then, the fire may continue to generate smoke; residents in the area may see smoke for the next several days.

The fire will not impact County single-family residential curbside trash pick-up, however, commercial customers (including for multi-family properties) will temporarily be diverted to other facilities. The Shady Grove Processing and Transfer Station located on Shady Grove Road will continue to be available for resident use.

“Firefighters have worked around the clock since Thursday evening when they were first called to the scene,” said Pete Piringer, public information officer for the County’s Fire & Rescue Services. “Firefighters will continue working until the fire is out.”

Weather is forecasted to be favorable for the next 24 hours to keep smoke rising high in the air away from resident homes.

Anyone in the immediate vicinity of the facility, who is experiencing asthma, chronic lung or heart conditions should minimize exposure by either staying indoors or avoiding the area; if you experience increased symptoms you should contact your health care provider.

For more information, residents can visit the Division of Solid Waste Services website at www.montgomerycountymd.gov/solidwaste, or call MC311 by calling 3-1-1 or 240-777-0311 from anywhere. The MC311 website, www.mc311.com, is available to the public 24/7 for online service requests. MC 311 is open Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Release ID: 16-439
Media Contact: Judy Stiles 240-777-6536