Transfer station reopens after trash fire

The Douglas Disposal Transfer Station and recycling center reopened Wednesday after a Sunday evening trash fire.

East Fork firefighters responded to a 7 p.m. fire alarm at the station.

“The first engine discovered a large amount of smoke in the area and requested additional units,” Battalion Chief Scott Fraser said. “Once units entered the building they found a very large pile of trash on fire inside the building.”

Fire sprinklers helped keep the fire from spreading to the large metal building that houses the transfer station.

Fraser said four engines, three ambulances, four water tenders and three command officers spent four hours at the station to suppress and overhaul the fire.

Firefighters from Tahoe-Douglas Fire Protection District covered Carson Valley and handled emergency calls while the fire was extinguished.

While the fire’s cause is unknown, Fraser reminded residents to dispose of fireplace and woodstove ashes safely. The Transfer Station has a metal container for ashes, which is a good idea for residents, as well.

The transfer station is typically closed on Mondays, but the web site at www.douglasdisposal.com reports that it won’t be open for “an undetermined period of time” while workers clean up after the fire.

The company said that there will be no interruption in curbside pickup for its customers.

East Fork firefighters had an early morning on Sunday, with a vehicle fire forcing north Valley residents from their Esaw home at 4:25 a.m. A quad caught fire and put out a lot of smoke before residents got it rolled out of the garage. Medics checked residents who were exposed to the smoke, but there’s no indication the fire spread to the home.