9/2/2005

Rolls of paper go up in flames at Chambersburg Waste Paper Co. Inc. on Loop Road Friday night.

Originally Published in the Waynesboro Record Herald

CHAMBERSBURG - Flames and smoke filled the night sky Friday as a huge fire consumed the Chambersburg Waste Paper Co. Inc. plant.

Nearly 100 firefighters from departments in six counties in Pennsylvania and Maryland responded to the blaze at 2047 Loop Road at 6:55 p.m. Friday.
Firefighters finally cleared the scene at 2:30 this morning after battling the blaze for eight hours, according to an official at Franklin Fire Co. in Chambersburg.

No one was injured, but the fire destroyed the plant and caused an estimated $1 million in damage. The cause was not known this morning.

The plant recycles waste paper and cardboard and has been in business since 1974. It is the major paper and cardboard recycler for many Franklin County businesses, according to Mike Ross, executive director of Franklin County Area Development Corp.

"There's potentially a very significant effect for a lot of local businesses," Ross said. "It's a critical service as companies try to dispose of their waste."

"There aren't a lot of companies that are out there in that business, and Chambersburg Waste Paper has been very successful for long time," he added.

Chambersburg Waste Paper Co. employed 75 people. It is not yet known if the plant will be rebuilt.

A large column of smoke from the fire could be seen for miles, as far away as Hagerstown, Greencastle and Waynesboro.

A crowd gathered at the corner of U.S. 11 and Orchard Drive to watch the fire, but fire police would not let anyone get closer.

Motorists - stymied by road closures - were cutting across fields near Mill Road, which intersects with U.S. 11 north of the plant.

In Franklin County, units responded from the Chambersburg Fire Department, Waynesboro Fire Department, Fayetteville Fire Co., Rescue Hose Co. of Greencastle, New Franklin Fire Department, St. Thomas Township Volunteer Fire Co., Marion Volunteer Fire Co., Chambersburg Ambulance Squad, Fannett-Metal Fire and Ambulance Squad and MMP&W Fire Co. of Mercersburg, according to the Franklin County 911 Center.

All county fire police were called to the scene to direct traffic.

Five units responded from Cumberland County, two from Fulton County, one from Huntingdon County, four from Washington County and three from Adams County, a representative from the 911 center said.

Photos below provided by Robert Rosensteel Jr. (taken by camera phone)