ORRINGTON -- A  fire that broke out during Oct. 1 in the trash-to-energy incinerator in Orrington at the Eagle Point Energy Center prompted Maine's Dept. of Environmental Protection to issue an advisory Oct. 2: "DEP does not know of any specific human health or air quality impacts at this time. The Department recommends that local residents and those who may be downwind to keep their windows closed at this time if they see or smell smoke due to the significant smoke problem this fire is producing."

Orrington is on the Penobscot River, adjacent to Bucksport on Route 15. 

The fire drew mutual aid response, and according to an article in the Bangor Daily News, flames, "...were rising through the 200-by-400-foot steel roof of the building...."

The incinerator is used for burning municipal solid waste to generate electricity. EPEC (formerly known as Penobscot Energy Recovery Company (PERC) receives solid waste from municipalities and commercial waste haulers. 

"Smoke can irritate the eyes and airways, causing coughing, a scratchy throat, irritated sinuses, headaches, stinging eyes, or a runny nose," the DEP said. "People with heart disease might experience chest pain, palpitations, shortness of breath, or fatigue. People with lung disease may not be able to breathe as deeply or as vigorously as usual, and they may experience symptoms such as coughing, phlegm, chest discomfort, wheezing, and shortness of breath."

The advisory from the DEP said:

• Stay inside and away from the smoke.
• Keep indoor air as clean as possible. Keep windows and doors closed. Do not run your air conditioner.
• Air handling and air recirculating systems should be turned off to prevent pulling air from outside, ensure filters are in place and replace filters once this incident is over.
• Follow the advice of your doctor or other health care provider about medicines and your respiratory management plan if you have asthma or another lung disease.

Seek medical attention if you are having difficulty breathing or symptoms worsen.

DEP is assembling personnel and assets from the Department’s Air Bureau to monitor the air quality in the surrounding area adjacent to the EPEC’s facility.  An EPA air monitoring team is on route after the Maine DEP requested earlier this morning that the EPA augment this air monitoring effort.

Maine DEP will share air sampling results as soon as they are available.