Fire, Explosions Damage NY Sewage Plant
By Richard J. Bayne
Source The Times Herald-Record, Middletown, N.Y.
Aug. 15 -- HIGHLAND FALLS, NY -- A midday fire and explosions damaged the village’s sewage treatment plant Wednesday, causing the precautionary evacuation of nearby homes.
But the plant was still operating after the fire, according to Chief Operator John Jones.
Village police Chief Ken Scott said the fire was reported to 911 at 12:06 p.m.
The fire apparently began in an exterior area where welding contractors were working on a device called a rotating biological contactor (RBC). The RBCs are involved in the final step of the treatment process before the sewage is discharged.
The welders were the only ones working at the plant at the time. Jones said plant workers had just gone to lunch.
Scott said the exact cause of the fire is still under investigation.
Vini Tankasali, Orange County’s fire coordinator, said there were three explosions at the plant during the fire, but no one was hurt. Town of Highlands and New Windsor ambulances were on the scene.
A county hazmat team also responded to the scene due to concerns that some chemicals might have leaked during the fire. The hazmat team determined there was no leakage, Tankasali said.
Jones and Mayor Joseph D’Onofrio also stressed there was no contamination of the nearby Hudson River as a result of the fire, by either chemicals or raw sewage. The plant is at 95 Rose Dr.
The fire was brought under control in about 20 minutes, Tankasali said. Firefighters remained on the scene for about two hours.
About 40 firefighters from the Highland Falls, Fort Montgomery and West Point fire departments responded to the scene. Firefighters from Cornwall, Vails Gate and Stony Point were on standby.
D’Onofrio said an area encompassing about 25 to 30 homes on Rose Drive was evacuated for a short time as a precaution. He said many people were not home, and it was unclear how many actual people evacuated.
The village also contacted the state Department of Environmental Conservation, which sent investigators to the scene.
Jones said the plant was operating at about 75 percent of full capacity after the fire.
“This could have been a lot worse,” he said.
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