ORRINGTON, Maine — Crews from multiple towns are responding to a fire located at the former PERC facility in Orrington Tuesday night.
Around 8:30 p.m., initial reports were received from across the Penobscot River in Hampden noting flames coming through the roof of the facility, according to the Brewer Fire Department.
The blaze warranted a multi-agency response after the hydrant system was reported to be out of service, which required tankers to respond from surrounding communities including Brewer, Bangor, Holden, Eddington, Dedham, Hermon, Hampden, and Levant, the Brewer Fire Department told NEWS CENTER Maine.
A small fire reportedly occurred at the facility on Monday during the day, according to the Brewer Fire Department.
NEWS CENTER Maine had a crew at the scene who said heavy smoke could be seen in the area. Additional crews were observed staging at Norlen's Water Treatment, located close to the facility.
As of 10 p.m., Industrial Way, where the former PERC facility is located, was closed while crews responded. River Road (Route 15) did not appear to be impacted.
Orrington Town Manager Chris Backman told NEWS CENTER Maine the fire was "pretty much knocked down" around 10:35 p.m. Some crews were observed leaving the scene around 11 p.m., but many crews were still present around 11:10 p.m.
It is believed there is no risk to the public and that workers had not been present for some time.
The Orrington-based renewable waste facility formerly known as Penobscot Energy Recovery Company, or PERC, was sold to Eagle Point Energy Center earlier this year. Eagle Point Energy Center announced plans to restart operations in early 2025.
Backman said the town has been working with the Eagle Point Energy Center to get the facility reopened throughout the summer and that the fire Tuesday night is not expected to delay reopening at this time.
He noted there was a large amount of trash left by PERC, and that getting rid of old trash is the center's highest priority.
"We've been putting plans together all summer long, trying to get construction and restart this plant. And we've been fighting this pile of trash that's been left here since 2023. Can't work around it, it's obviously a fire hazard, and we're going to need some assistance cleaning it up," Backman said.
Eagle Point Energy Center spokesperson Dan Cashman told NEWS CENTER Maine in a statement late Tuesday night that "negligible damage to the facility was sustained" in the fire.
The cause of the fire is believed to be a lithium-ion battery left over from the PERC facility, Cashman said.
"PERC improperly disposed of nearly 8,000 tons of solid waste, polluting the site before creditors foreclosed on the facility in May of 2023," the statement read. "Since acquiring the facility, EPEC in conjunction with the Town of Orrington has spent over $500,000 remediating the site. EPEC and the Town of Orrington commend the Maine Department of Environmental Protection’s continued stance that polluters, like PERC, will be held financially responsible, rather than host communities. EPEC looks forward to continued progress on the clean up and the start of construction."
This story will be updated.
