Fire at Akron Thermal Plant Under Control

By The Akron Beacon Journal, Ohio

May 9–A two-alarm fire has been brought under control at the Akron Thermal LP plant on Opportunity Parkway on the south end of downtown Akron.

Akron fire spokesman John Gordon said no firefighters were injured at the blaze at the site of the former Recycle Energy System (RES) Plant.

The fire was reported at 6:43 a.m.

The fire was caused by a dust explosion, Gordon said.

It started in the conveyor belt area and extended to the roof area, Gordon said.

The fire was brought under control at 8:50 a.m., Gordon said.

Eight fire trucks with at least 23 firefighters fought the blaze, Gordon said.

Akron Thermal operates a heating and cooling system that serves downtown Akron.

The system is owned by the city of Akron and leased back to Akron Thermal and includes the former RES plant as well as two boilers at the former B.F. Goodrich facility.

The company burns a mixture of wood chips and scrap tires at the RES facility.

In 1984, when the RES facility was a trash-burning power plant, three people were killed when a shipment of sawdust mixed with oil and paint caused an explosion.

Akron Thermal officials could not be reached for comment this morning.

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Copyright (c) 2006, The Akron Beacon Journal, Ohio

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