Sellersville Volunteers and mutual aid companies were dispatched for the reported commercial structure fire at Waste Management in Hilltown Township. BC27 had arrived and was flagged down by an employee, who reported that there was a fire next door with the smoke visible. Engine 27 responded to the 4600 block of Bethlehem pike, just adjacent to the Waste Management complex, to find a small rubbish fire.

While extinguishing the rubbish, DC27 was then advised by WM that there in fact was also a small fire in the transfer station that employees had contained. Engine 27 dropped their trash line and relocated with Tower 27, Engine 26 and Utility 59 to pick apart and fully extinguish the small pile of trash.

The fire at the transfer building was likely caused by the improper disposal of hazardous materials in the refuse. While it is “inconvenient” to properly dispose of hazardous materials, there is a reason it needs to be done to prevent incidents like this.