A group of quick-thinking Waste Management employees held a blaze in check Thursday until firefighters would get to the scene.
Falls Township Fire Marshal Rich Dippolito said a truck dumped a load of recyclables at the transfer station operated by Waste Management in the Wheelabrator Falls building on New Ford Mill Road around 2:30 p.m.
Advertisements
“The truck came in and dumped the load not knowing something was burning and drove off,” Dippolito said. “Some air got to it and all of the sudden it got going.”
The crew members at the facility quickly noticed the fire and worked together to handle it. One worker called 9-1-1 while others used a piece of equipment to get a burning pile outside while closing the facility doors to prevent wind from spreading the flames. In addition, a Waste Management worker grabbed a hose and held the fire in check until firefighters arrived, according to Dippolito.
The flames were fully extinguished by firefighters in minutes without any damage to the building.
Advertisements
Dippolito lauded the actions of Waste Management workers for helping stop the fire from spreading.
Crews from the Falls Township, Fairless Hills, Edgely, Morrisville, Levittown and Tullytown fire companies responded to the call.
Advertisements
In 2015, a Waste Management worker helped stop a house fire in Bristol Township.
