SEQUIM — An investigation is due to begin today into the cause of a fire that destroyed the building that contained two large trash containers that make up the Blue Mountain Waste Transfer Station.
The small building on Blue Mountain Road about a mile south of U.S. Highway 101 was almost 90 percent covered in flames when firefighters arrived following a 9-1-1 call about 6:40 p.m. Sunday, said Patrick Young, Clallam County Fire District No. 3 spokesman.
The fire destroyed the business office, employee break area and burned off the roof that covered the garbage and cardboard containers. The contents of both containers also were on fire.
The transfer station, which collects garbage and recyclables for hauling to a larger Port Angeles transfer station. There, refuse is packaged for transportation to the Tacoma area and eventually eastern Oregon.
The station, which is operated under contract to Waste Connections Inc. in cooperation with the city of Port Angeles and Clallam County, was closed at the time of the fire. No injuries were reported in fighting the blaze.
As fire crews began to combat the fire, a large pressure tank inside of the building exploded, causing a loud “boom” to be heard in the area, Young said. The tank more than likely experienced a steam explosion as water inside the tank turned into steam and could not escape.
The garbage container was nearly empty at the time of the fire but the cardboard recycling container was nearly full.
It took about 20 firefighters from Clallam County Fire Districts Nos. 3 and 2 more than two hours to extinguish the blaze and mop up hotspots, Young said.
In addition, the Clallam County Sheriff’s Office and Clallam County Public Utility District responded to the scene.
There’s no cost estimate of the loss at this time.
