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Adams County Solid Waste Committee reports Cell 6 fire, schedules safety outreach and equipment upgrades
Summary
Committee heard that a fire in Cell 6 on May 12 was contained; staff suspect a lithium battery. Members also reviewed a planned compliance gas probe, refurbished compactor safety upgrades and a new equipment maintenance schedule.
At its June 10 meeting, the Adams County Solid Waste Committee was briefed on a fire that burned in Cell 6 at the county facility on May 12, 2025, and on a series of operations and safety steps staff plan to pursue.
Ruben, staff member, told the committee the fire started at about 3:30 a.m. on May 12 and that “Matt McLaughlin was the 1 on the scene. Immediately, he started covering the area with sand with the loader. Danny Repta and Nate Klotsky arrived shortly after to assist with the fire.” Adams County Fire Department and the DNR fire response team also responded, and the blaze was extinguished, Ruben said.
Ruben said the cause is unknown but added, “Now my opinion is that it probably started from a lithium battery.” He told the committee staff could not locate a definitive ignition source because the burned area was broad and contained multiple waste types. Ruben said staff plan public outreach about proper disposal of rechargeable lithium batteries and disposable vape devices and that he will “probably contact the radio” to arrange an announcement.
The committee also heard several operational updates from Ruben. A gas probe (Gas Probe No. 4) required for compliance with the Department of Natural Resources is scheduled to be installed on June 20, 2025; Ruben said in the meeting that the installation “is scheduled to get put in on June twentieth of this month, and, estimated cost is 8,800.” The gas probe was described as necessary to maintain DNR compliance between construction of Cell 5 and Cell 6.
Ruben reported that a refurbished compactor, repaired by JWR, has been returned to service with restored floors and new safety features, including doors and safety switches that prevent operation unless the door is closed and the magnetic safety key is set. He said the refurbishment saves roughly half the cost of a new unit and could allow the county to refurbish two machines for the price of one new compactor.
Staff are also working to put all equipment on a formal service schedule after finding machines with overdue maintenance and filter changes dating to 2019–2021. Ruben credited Nate Klotsky with progress on establishing that maintenance program. He said interviews are scheduled for three candidates next Monday to fill staffing gaps at the facility.
The committee did not take formal action on these operational items during the public portion of the meeting; the updates were delivered as the site report and discussed by members.
Less urgent details reviewed included a finalized agreement for a butterfly garden at the site (Ruben said the signed agreement was received the day before the meeting) and photographs from the fire area that Ruben uploaded for committee review.
