Date: June 22, 2018
Location: Hamburg, Pennsylvania (USA)
Address: 1000 S Fourth Street, 19526
Type: Dust Fire
Fuel: Cardboard Dust
Industry: Recycling (Natural Resources)
Equipment: Conveyor Belt
Company: Cougle’s Recycling
Previous Incidents: None Reported
Loss: No Injuries
Capital Cost: $60,000
Status: Open
Confirmation: Unconfirmed
Company Description:
According to the company website, Cougle’s Recycling was founded in the early 1940’s. Its facility in Hamburg is approximately 120,000 square feet and employs over 100 full time staff as well as temporary labor. The company has also acquired a second 90,000 square foot facility in Auburn, Pennsylvania to be utilized for plastics processing. Its stated goal is to scan the markets for new, innovative ways to recycle items that previously proved challenging or impossible.
Description of Cardboard Dust Fire:
On June 22, 2018 the Reading Eagle reported a structural fire at a recycling plant in Hamburg, Pennsylvania. When firefighters arrived shortly after 10:30 p.m., they found flames on a cardboard-loaded conveyor belt outside the main building. According to the Fire Department Deputy Chief, the fire was running up the conveyor belt and getting worse with each passing minute. Although little information is available about the specific conditions of the cardboard fuel, images of the scene appear to show the conveyor being used to load dust piles when the fire occurred.
The flames were threatening the structure, so a second alarm was called due to the size of the building and amount of combustible materials in the plant.
Firefighters got the blaze under control about 11:15 p.m. There were no reported injuries but a subsequent issue of the Reading Eagle estimated property damage to be $60,000.
Sources:
Reading Eagle
Reading Eagle
