SEATTLE — Seattle Fire Department (SFD) crews spent much of the night and early morning responding to a trash fire at Seattle’s South Transfer Station. SFD crews were first called at around 12:30 a.m. Friday, and were still on scene until approximately 7:30 a.m.
According to early reports from SFD, the fire extended to an adjacent building, but firefighters later confirmed that it was contained to the facility, only jumping to separate rubbish piles within the facility.
Firefighters utilized the heavy tractor loaders on the rubbish piles to spread the smoldering rubbish, then extinguish any remaining hot spots.
Firefighters knocked down most of the fire by around 4 a.m., SFD confirmed. The Mobile Ventilation Unit responded to help remove smoke from the facility. No injuries were reported, but representatives with Seattle Public Utilities, the agency that manages the building, says they deal with at least one fire a month at their waste facilities.
SPU says the fire is a reminder that batteries don’t belong in regular garbage or recycling bins.
“This is a great opportunity for residents to take those batteries or frequent fire starters out of your trash and take them to the Household Hazardous Waste locations,” said Tammy Clausing, operations manager for the City of Seattle.
According to the King County website, that includes alkaline batteries, rechargeable batteries, lithium batteries, and button-cell batteries. It says they can spark when they’re damaged or in contact with other metal, potentially starting fires in garbage trucks and waste facilities.
The cause of the fire in South Park is still under investigation.
For a list of disposal sites, click here.
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