Dumpster Fire Dies Down

(Crystal A. Proxmire, 1/8/2011)

As the sun sets on the W. Troy Street Parking Lot in Downtown Ferndale, firemen use a portable circular saw to try and reach the smoldering debris in what’s left of a dumpster fire on the side of the Better Business Systems building.  At approximately 5pm, an employee of Rosie O’Grady’s reported the fire in the shared dumpster, which is located in the City-owned lot just one block South of Nine Mile.

Firefighters subdued the flames by running a hose from their fire truck into the dumpster, yet because the dumpster is also a compactor, a good portion of the trash was enclosed and continued to smolder.  Two of the men climbed on top of the dumpster to cut a hole in the top to would allow more of the heat and smoke to escape, and give them an opportunity to run water directly on the debris.

The source of the fire is still being investigated.  Updates will be made as available.