A two-alarm blaze at a private waste management facility Wednesday in Howard County caused $50,000 in damage to some of the plant's equipment, but no structural damage, according to a county fire official.
Battalion Chief Eric Proctor said that the fire was contained to a trash compactor at Waste Management Recycle America. The fire began shortly before 8 a.m. and took a couple of hours to bring under control. The compactor runs the full length of the facility, located at 7175 Kit Kat Road in Elkridge.
Units from the Howard County Department of Fire and Rescue Services were supported by units from Baltimore and Anne Arundel counties. There were no injuries, but one person who evacuated the building after the fire broke out was evaluated at the scene and declined further treatment. An employee who noticed the fire called 911.
According to Proctor, the fire was brought under control using a combination of water and foam. Proctor said that the cause of the fire is still under investigation.