Sludge Watch ==> Vestal New York - Fire at Sludge Compost Site - Binghamton-Johnson City Plant

[maureen.reilly at sympatico.ca]

WCAX News

Fire officials contain fire at sewage plant

VESTAL, N.Y. Firefighters in one Southern Tier community spent much of today 
trying to control a fire that broke out in a reactor at sewage plant.

Authorities say a fire was reported at the Binghamton-Johnson City Joint 
Wastewater Treatment Facility around 8 a-m. The blaze broke out in a reactor 
where wood and sludge are mixed to produce compost.

The reactor must maintain a temperature of between 45 and 60 degrees Celsius 
to compost and when firefighters arrived on the scene, the temperature was 
much higher.

Nitrogen was injected into the bottom of the reactor to smother the fire. 
Fire officials left the scene around three p-m, but nitrogen was still being 
pumped into the evening.AX TV News
Vermont