Trash Fire Finally Extinguished at Garbage Disposal Plant in Lorton

A fire that engulfed three stories worth of trash and burned for days at a waste-to-energy plant in Lorton, Virginia, is finally out.

Firefighters are now going through the four-story Covanta Fairfax Waste-to-Energy Facility, making sure that there are no remaining hot spots, a process which could take days thanks to the massive amount of garbage, fire officials said.

The 2-alarm fire started about 9 p.m. Thursday at the plant, which is located at 9898 Furnace Road in Lorton, according to Fairfax County Fire & Rescue.

Workers reported the fire in the tipping floor area, where trucks dump 3,000 tons of solid waste daily into a pit. Fires in this area can usually be put out with water.

"This one got out of control; we're not exactly sure why," said Covanta Vice President Joey Neuhoff last week. He said they were conducting an investigation.

All employees were able to get out safely, and no one was hurt.

Chopper4 was over the scene Thursday night as the growing fire ripped through the roof of the industrial building. Smoke from the fire was still visible from nearby Interstate 95 the next morning.

Ultimately, it took 60 Fairfax County firefighters to get the flames under control Friday.

However, the debris continued to smolder, and smoke drifted into nearby neighborhoods and communities like Lorton Valley.

Clint Herbert, president of the Lorton Valley Homeowners Association, said Friday that he was told there were no air quality issues and that authorities had monitors in the area.

But some residents said they were having a hard time.