By HEATHER PYLES, Straff Writer
Somerset — The cause of a massive blaze that left a local waste collection facility gutted may never be known, but officials are looking forward as rebuilding plans begin.
Solid Waste Coordinator Gerald Hines said an insurance adjuster had examined Waste Connections, located on Shane’s Lane off Ky. 914, and it appears that the building sustained enough damage to require rebuilding from the ground up.
The facility, which processes around 100 tons of waste each day, according to manager Rodney Turner, was destroyed Tuesday in a fast-burning fire that overtook the building within a matter of minutes. While the office section of the facility had appeared to be untouched by the flames, Hines said the whole building has been deemed a complete loss.
Nearly every part of the building sustained some type of damage related to the fire — whether that be water, smoke or flame damage — and Hines said what’s left has been determined to be hazardous.
“It’ll be a tear down and build back up situation,” Hines said.
Eight local fire departments, along with other emergency responders, were on the scene of the fire since it began at 5 p.m. Tuesday until close to 10 p.m. that night, according to Pulaski County Public Safety Director Tiger Robinson.
Hines said he’s fielded many calls at the Pulaski County Recycling Center from concerned residents asking about waste collection and drop-offs.
“For the most part, people have been understanding,” Hines said.
Those needing to bring waste to the facility will be unable to do so for a couple weeks, but Hines said the City of Somerset is offering to take on the extra influx of waste at its own collection site, located on Clifty Road.
Hines said officials with the City of Somerset have “done an excellent job in letting us work hand-in-hand with the transfer station so we can continue those services people need.”
Hines emphasized that residential, commercial and roll-off waste collection will continue unaffected while Waste Connections is rebuilt. He noted that Waste Connections is keeping all of its employees on staff, even though the facility is currently unusable.
“That says a lot for the company,” Hines said. “It’s a positive thing.”
Hines had said he believed Waste Connections employs more than 20 people at the facility — many of those drivers who run the residential, commercial and roll-off routes.
Although the PRIDE (Personal Responsibility in a Desirable Environment) free waste disposal days, set for April 10 and 24 at the Waste Connections facility, will be postponed until further notice, Hines said officials and those with Waste Connections are working to schedule a free waste disposal event this coming fall.
The Ky. 914 facility serves as the collection site for the annual event, which normally brings in more than thousands of tons of waste.
Hines said the rebuilding process has already begun, noting that the bid process is slated to begin immediately because the reconstruction qualifies as an emergency situation.
“Everything will be on the fast track,” Hines said.
Meanwhile, Robinson said it’s nearly impossible for investigators to know exactly what sparked the fire. According to Turner’s account at the site Tuesday, an employee smelled a strange odor, but before anything could be found, flames appeared, and the facility was engulfed within several minutes.
Waste fires are notoriously fast-burning and stubborn, and fire personnel must practice extreme caution while battling those flames, as toxic fumes released in the air can easily overtake a person in an enclosed area.
Hines said some material that had been burnt before being dropped off at the facility was found, but he said there’s no way to know whether the fire started there.
Hines said he and other officials, along with those at Waste Connections, are thankful for the dedication expressed by local fire personnel in battling the flames on Tuesday.
It’s uncertain how long it will be before Waste Connections can boast a brand new building, but Hines said it’s “full speed ahead” from now on.
“I just ask that the public be a little patient,” Hines said. “Everyone should still get what they need.”
