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Crews continue to work on fire at Greenstar Recycling in Northampton, multiple roads closed

Writer's picture: Lori Lee WGOLVLori Lee WGOLV

Fire crews from three counties worked for hours to combat a fire in Northampton County from early Tuesday morning until the afternoon. They are still on the scene.


Flames could be seen coming out of the roof of Greenstarr Recycling, and thick smoke filled the air well beyond the site.


Chief Keith Knoblach with the Northampton Borough Fire Department told Channel 69 News crews were called to the fire around 5:30 a.m. and had it contained within about an hour - but by 11 a.m., crews were still putting out flames.


"We're making good progress on the fire," he said. "It's going to be a long-term incident. They currently dismantling the building right now, removing the roof so we can actually get in there with the master streams and extinguish the fire."


Knoblach told 69 News, "When they first got there, they were met with a heavy fire load showing from the center of the building that was spreading rapidly."


Crews continue to work on the fire at Green Star Recylcing

Courtesy - Lehigh Valley Fire Scene Photos


"We're doing everything in our power to make sure this fire is under control," Northampton Borough Mayor Tony Pristash said.


Officials say the fire completely engulfed one of its buildings before spreading to a second.


"They had the conveyor system and what was on fire, the machine wasn't actually disengaged from my understanding and that it just kept conveying the stuff through," Knoblach said, "until they got the machine shut down."


Knoblach also told WFMZ that around 30 to 40 units from three different counties - Northampton, Lehigh, and Carbon - came to help out.


"We're quite fortunate in this area that there are still volunteer fire department center that are able to continue to provide great service, to to the valley," Knoblach said.


According to officials, there have been no injuries reported so far.


"It's pretty much an exterior evolution from the beginning," Knoblach said.


Tankers were filling up at the Northampton Borough Fire Station all morning long, as officials say water was limited on the site, but the fire chief says everyone did a good job getting back and forth quickly.


Multiple roads were closed surrounding the large site, to allow fire crews to get back and forth.


The following roads are still closed due to the fire -


Lerchenmiller Dr: from Washington Ave - Smith Ln


Horwith Dr: Hollow Ln - Smith Ln


Clearsprings Dr: Completely Closed


Please plan your trips accordingly.


Officials say a hazmat team was called in to test the air quality, but so far it is not posing a threat.


The cause of the fire is under investigation.




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